About Right Start Ministries
Right Start Ministries started almost 60 years ago with Pastor Jim Custer producing and then delivering messages to local radio stations. Today, Right Start can be heard in Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and around the world.
Right Start is a ministry of Grace Polaris Church in Columbus, Ohio.
Our Mission Statement
Right Start is an outreach ministry with a three-fold aim committed to excellence in communicating biblical truth and its application to the daily lives of our listeners.
Stimulate an interest in understanding the
Word of God among believers
(Colossians 1:28)
Strengthen local churches by providing a teaching ministry to local church leaders and teachers
(2 Timothy 2:2)
Evangelize those who are seeking a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
(John 20:31)
Pastor Jim Custer
Pastor Jim has been pastoring at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, Ohio since 1968. During those years he has shared the oversight of the ministries of the church, the initiation and development of the Grace Brethren Christian Pre & Elementary Schools & Worthington Christian High School, the Theological Practicum (an institute designed to train men for pastoral ministry), Worthington Bible Institute, and two Missions Boards which seek to plant and mature new churches. Presently, 200 full and part-time partners staff the many ministries of the church. In addition to the church ministries, many people living throughout Ohio and surrounding states recognize Pastor Jim’s voice because of the Right Start daily radio broadcast, which has aired for 55+ years.
Pastor Jim graduated with academic honors from Grace College (BA) and Grace Theological Seminary (MDiv) in 1963. He later earned the Master of Theology degree from Grace Seminary in 1977. His alma mater honored him in 1991 when Grace Theological Seminary conferred upon him the Doctor of Divinity (DD) Degree.
Dedication to Ministry
Throughout his 60+ years of Gospel ministry, Pastor Jim has served in many leadership roles within the National Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, including the Brethren Board of Evangelism, the National Youth Board, the Board of Christian Education, the Brethren Home Missions Board, and currently as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary. He served his Fellowship of Churches as their conference moderator in 1977 and was again elected moderator for the National Conference in 2000. His peers elected him Chairman of the National Association of Grace Brethren Ministers, and in 2002, presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A deep love for studying and teaching the Bible, especially prophetic passages that outline God’s plan for the future of mankind’s history, has been central to Pastor Jim’s ministry. In 1969, he and his late wife, Triceine, were introduced to Israel and quickly recognized how visiting the lands of the Bible could benefit believers seeking to better understand its message and meaning. Together, they led 34 tours to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Greece, and Rome, finding great joy in witnessing the Scriptures come alive for those who traveled with them. Twice, the Israel Ministry of Tourism honored him with a Distinguished Service Award.
Pastor Jim remains deeply committed to Gospel evangelism and has traveled throughout the states, Africa, and Europe to encourage missionary families—many of whom are former members of the churches in Columbus and Iowa where he and Triceine served faithfully.
Pastor Jim and Triceine were blessed with two sons and a daughter, and he cherishes his role as a grandfather to ten grandchildren. He continues to be a living collage of all these precious influences, orchestrated by the grace of Jesus Christ.
