Face to Face with God by Jim Maxim

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2013/01/10 - Updated: 2025/05/23
Publication Type: Literature / Review
Category Topic: Disability Publications - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article recounts the remarkable journey of Jim Maxim, who survived a devastating alcohol-related car crash that left his face shattered and nearly claimed his life, only to undergo a profound spiritual transformation. The narrative details Maxim's harrowing hospital experience, including vivid encounters with demonic figures and a life-altering meeting with a Being he identifies as Jesus, which led him to abandon addiction and embrace faith.

Maxim's story is particularly authoritative and helpful for individuals facing seemingly insurmountable challenges - including people with disabilities, seniors, or those struggling with substance abuse - because it demonstrates the possibility of change and hope even in the darkest circumstances. Examples from the article, such as Maxim's miraculous preservation of eyesight after his mother's fervent prayers and his later work speaking in prisons and supporting ministries, highlight the broader impact of his experience. The book's translation into multiple languages and Maxim's ongoing advocacy for prayer and support within marginalized communities further underscore its relevance and usefulness to diverse audiences - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Ask author Jim Maxim if he had a near-death experience that fateful night when he miraculously survived a devastating car wreck, and he will respond with a simple answer: "I don't know, but it changed my life." Readers can make their own judgment when the popular book "Face to Face with God" is released in ebook form.

Main Content

"Face to Face with God" tells the story of Jim Maxim's supernatural experience after an alcohol-induced car crash shattered his face and nearly took his life. Lying in critical condition in the hospital, Jim describes being confronted by demonic figures that "were going to do whatever they wanted to me," says Jim Maxim. But suddenly, another Being appeared before him and Maxim began conversing with this person he now clearly identifies as Jesus. After a long recovery, Maxim reemerged a changed man, giving up his addiction to alcohol and drugs.

"I wrote this book for people like the old me who may feel like 'lost causes,'" Jim Maxim said. "I'm living proof God answers prayer, and that absolutely no one is beyond His reach."

Maxim rejected the Christian faith as a young man, choosing instead to make drugs and alcohol his salvation. Maxim's mother was a born-again Christian and prayed for her children consistently, an act which Maxim dismissed.

"I didn't understand anything about the bible or prayer," says Maxim. "I thought it was all a waste of time."

But Maxim now believes his mother's prayers saved his life.

"When the hospital called my mom to tell her I was in intensive care," says Maxim, "she knelt on her knees and asked God to heal me and specifically she asked that He not allow me to be blind. She was told that my face was shattered and as she prayed, she saw the hand of God reach down and touch my eye. Despite severe injuries to my entire face and head, I never lost my eyesight." Maxim describes his first words to his mother when she walked into his hospital room. "My mouth was wired shut, but I whispered to my mom, 'Jesus is here.'"

Once he was released from the hospital, Maxim began hanging out with his old friends, but quickly realized he was a different man.

"They would offer me drinks and drugs and I would just say, 'No thanks. I don't need that anymore.' They couldn't understand what had happened to me. But I knew I had seen God up close face to face and I was never going to be the same."

Maxim has become a sought-after speaker, traveling across the U.S. and to several foreign countries, speaking for various organizations and ministries. Maxim has a special affinity toward prisoners, having spent time in jail when he was an addict. Maxim shared the stage with Prison Fellowship's founder, the late Chuck Colson, at the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility in Minnesota and later spoke for the entire staff of Prison Fellowship following Colson's death. Maxim continues to speak at various prisons across the country and spoke to men in several Mexico prisons most recently.

Maxim founded Acts 413 Ministries to promote corporate prayer in the worldwide church body. Acts 413 has hosted two annual prayer events in Maxim's hometown of Philadelphia featuring Pastor Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle, Gary Wilkerson son of David Wilkerson and pastor of The Springs Church, and Pastor Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The annual events have been attended by over 3000 pastors and lay leaders in the Philadelphia area.

Maxim is founder and president of Maxim Automotive and MaximTrak Technologies which helps automotive retailers and OEM's manage and improve profitability and compliance. Maxim serves on the boards of various ministries including People for People and World Impact and is the chair of The Hope Center, an inner-city crisis pregnancy center. Maxim also works with various mission organizations in Africa, ministering to both pastors and children.

Since its release, "Face to Face with God" has been translated into Spanish, Indonesian and Urdu (Pakistan) languages and is now available in over 15 countries around the world.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Author Credentials: Ian is an Australian-born writer, editor, and advocate who currently resides in Montreal, Canada. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.