Hello

My name is Dr. Jim Tegelhutter and I am an almost forty year ministry veteran. I have served in local church settings, para-church ministries, and evangelistical ministry. I have a great desire to see believers come to a place of authentic intimacy with Jesus.

My Story

I stepped into full-time ministry on February 23rd, 1987—a date burned into my memory like a divine appointment reminder. I was a Bible college student minding my own business, and God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Tag, you’re it.” Since then, I’ve spent 27 years as a youth pastor (yes… twenty-seven. I have the gray hair and dodgeball scars to prove it) and another 11 years as a senior pastor. I’ve ministered to everyone—from street kids with fire in their eyes to faithful believers planted in pews—and I’ve watched Jesus meet them all in ways only He can.

In 2021, the Lord threw me a holy curveball: “Pray three to five hours a day.” At first, it felt impossible—somewhere between climbing Everest and assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions. But I said yes, and by His grace, I’ve kept that rhythm ever since. The revelation that’s come out of those hours has been nothing short of transformational. Now my passion—truly the fire in my bones—is to help believers step into authentic, daily intimacy with Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and worship.

I completed my PhD at Southeastern University in 2022 and currently serve in a local church while traveling to teach what I’ve learned about cultivating a vibrant prayer life and studying the Word in deeply meaningful ways. I also carry a strong burden for senior pastors. My doctoral research focused on the hidden struggles leaders face and practical ways to help them overcome and thrive. (If you’re into academic adventure, you can even read my dissertation here!)

If I can serve you, your church, or your leadership team, feel free to visit the booking page. I’d love the honor of coming alongside you as you pursue Jesus with passion and purpose.

Missions

For the last 38 years, I’ve had the wild, humbling privilege of preaching the gospel on five different continents. From the bustling streets of Guatemala City to the red dirt roads of Kenya, from the misty hills of Sheffield to the jungles of Papua New Guinea, I’ve gotten to watch Jesus touch hearts in ways that still leave me shaking my head in awe. I’ve traveled with incredible ministries, eaten foods I still can’t pronounce, preached in places I’ll never forget, and seen God move in ways that remind me why I said “yes” in the first place.

I’ve shared the gospel in:

Guatemala City, Guatemala
Quito, Coca, and Santo Domingo, Ecuador (been there 5x)
Sheffield, England (been there 8x)
Bungoma, Kenya Africa
Papua New Guinea
And across more states in the U.S. than I can count without a map

Missions isn’t just something I do—it’s something God wrote into my bones. Every time I hop on a plane with a Bible in one hand and a suitcase that may or may not survive baggage claim, I’m reminded how beautiful it is to lift up the name of Jesus among the nations.

And I can’t wait for the next trip. The next story. The next moment where heaven breaks in on foreign soil and changes a life forever.

Why "Relentless?"

Merriam-Webster defines relentless as: “showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace.”

Exactly. Perfect. That’s the vibe.

Because let’s be honest: far too many people start the Christian journey with fireworks and finish it with a fizzle. They launch out of the gate like a spiritual Usain Bolt… and then somewhere between trials, distractions, disappointments, or flat-out spiritual warfare, they tap out. They sit down. They quit. And heaven didn’t design a single believer to die in the ditch with their engine still running. Relentless Ministries exists because finishing matters.

Not starting. Finishing. Not good intentions. Good endurance. Not hype. Holy grit.

Paul said it best in 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NKJV): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…” That’s not the testimony of a casual Christian. That’s the war cry of a man who refused to quit even when quitting would’ve been easier.

Our calling is simple: to equip believers to run their race without backing off the throttle. No abatement in intensity. No softening of strength. No slowing of pace. We want to help you fight well, finish well, and cross the line with your faith blazing—eyes up, heart full, and the crown of righteousness waiting on the other side. If you’re ready to live a faith that doesn’t flinch, fold, or fade…

Welcome to Relentless Ministries.

Personal

I hold a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University (2022), a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University (2008), and a Bible College degree from JSBC way back in 1987—the year big hair, shoulder pads, and cassette tapes ruled the earth. Somewhere along the way, God kept prompting me to pursue degrees and I kept saying, “Sure, why not?”

I’ve been married to my incredible wife, Monique, since 1995—proof that miracles are real and that she deserves a special crown in heaven. We raised an amazing daughter who’s now married and living in Delaware, which is a place I visit often enough to know all the good coffee shops.

When I’m not preaching, teaching, writing, or praying an unreasonable number of hours a day, you’ll probably find me in the gym attempting to defy aging through weightlifting and bodybuilding. And if I’m not there, I’m almost certainly in my Star Wars room—yes, a whole room—housing over 1,000 pieces of toys and memorabilia. It’s basically the Smithsonian, if the Smithsonian were run by a grown man who still gets emotional when he hears John Williams music.

We currently live in Florida, where the sun is hot, the humidity is disrespectful, and we share our home with two mentally deranged cats who operate under the assumption that they run this ministry. And honestly… they might.

(Click the helmet to visit Dr. Jim's Star Wars YouTube channel)