In the midst of the strong military presence in Germany during 1965, Jim and Mary Garrison found themselves stationed there as part of the US Air Force. Only having been married for one year, Jim and Mary were intrigued that they would end up at the roots of their heritage in both their family trees. But it would be in California where Jim was completing his term that God would call him back to Germany, not as an airman, but as an enlistment in the Lord’s Army.

After completing Bible college, an internship, approval and deputation, they arrived in Germany in 1975 with the intention of planting their first church in the northern area upon completion of language school. However, when Jim received a call about taking over the pastorate in Darmstadt where a military pastor was leaving, they were instantly thrust into an established ministry whose outreach connected with thousands of soldiers living on five of the thirty-one military bases in Germany. With permission to start a German work alongside the existing English-speaking church, and later a Spanish church, Russian church and Turkish church, it was clear that their ministry took on international dimensions. It became common to see visitors from virtually every continent.

From advertisements taken out in a local newspaper that English services were being held weekly, they led to Christ not only soldiers, but literally hundreds of internationals in the area who were working or attending one of three major universities. With an ever-constant turnover of people in the English church due to soldiers being reassigned or students graduating, there was much attention given to discipleship and training. Based upon the eagerness of the new believers to grow, a Bible Institute was started to further their knowledge of the Scriptures.

When 9/11 rocked the world, the Garrisons led a special prayer meeting at their church with Germans, Koreans and Iranians praying alongside their American friends. As a result of the increased security on the military bases in the ensuing days, Jim and Mary were able to focus on their German church until military campaigns began to lighten.

When a couple in their church approached the Garrisons about starting a Spanish church, they eagerly embraced the opportunity which later multiplied into ten more Spanish churches and two Italian churches all still thriving today. Their Turkish work also flourished quite well as they were able to support ten missionaries full-time.

Being only a short fifteen-minute commute from the Frankfurt International Airport, Jim and Mary frequently made available a spare bedroom and a hot breakfast for many pastors and missionaries traveling through. It was never considered a burden to pick up or drop off travelers at the airport, but rather a welcomed opportunity to visit and be an encouragement to others.

In a culture where babies begin drinking beer from their baby bottles, many conservatives choose to avoid the annual Oktoberfests held every fall, yet the Garrisons saw the yearly festival as an opportunity to have a booth and hand out Christian literature to visitors coming from all over the world. Jim taught new believers regularly from the Scriptures about the need to avoid alcohol. Occasionally, they had to turn down party invitations because alcohol was being served, yet they were respected for their stance.

Jim persevered through several health challenges through the years, but when he suffered a stroke in 2006, his limited recovery prompted him to step down as pastor of the Darmstadt church, turning it over to his son-in-law, William Busch, who had been serving in Dresdan. Jim continued helping at the church and filling in for other pastors and missionaries in the area until his health declined to where they retired from Career Missionary status in July 2012. Jim later passed into the presence of his Savior on January 13, 2020.

Being the youngest of eleven children, Mary has a fondness for that number as she lives stateside enjoying every opportunity she has to be with her eleven grandchildren and soon to be eleven great-grandchildren. Her life verse has always been:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

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