Jim Newsom, Founder of Outward Focus, speaking Sunday, January 17, 2010

Jim Newsom is founder and executive director of Outward Focused. Jim’s life includes being expelled from high school, drug abuse, and criminal activity ranging from purse-snatching to armed robbery. Having been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, Jim was ultimately charged and convicted of second-degree murder.

On July 26, 1972, Jim surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. The next morning, he turned himself into the local authorities, confessed to his crime and pled guilty to his charge. While in prison, he was instrumental in starting a prison church that is still in existence today. Having served eight years of a 30-year sentence, Jim was released in 1980. Since then, he has served as a youth minister and associate pastor in several churches.

In September 1983, a group of businessmen in Orlando, Florida asked Jim Newsom to relocate to their area to start a ministry that would minister to the least, the last and the lost. Since 1984, Outward Focused has had a hand in establishing 5 churches, 5 prison ministries, and has helped train 14 men for full-time ministry. This ministry has had an impact in 70 schools, 55 prisons, and over 100 churches.

In Jim resides in Louisville, KY with his wife, Diane, and their two children, Jessica & Jason.