Passion
In his roles as a pastor, teacher and mentor, James is driven by a deep passion to guide others into an intimate and transformative relationship with God. His life's mission is to inspire, motivate, and empower people to discover their significance in Christ and fulfill God's dream for their lives, for the multiplication of His glory. James carries a heartfelt burden to raise up spiritual fathers who can reveal the Father's heart to a generation in search of love, affirmation, acceptance, and approval in all the wrong places. His calling extends to reaching two pivotal mission fields: the church and the workplace. Committed to helping close the global discipleship gap, James dedicates himself to equipping the church to become hero makers. He is recognized for igniting a fresh fire in the hearts of believers, encouraging them to pursue a lifestyle of holiness through obedience to God's Word.
Testimony
James's early years were rooted in the church, yet it wasn't until the age of twenty-three that he wholeheartedly committed to Jesus as his Lord and Savior. A defining moment in his spiritual journey occurred during a corporate twenty-one day fast with his church in 2007, where God revealed his calling: to teach people the spiritual side of success. That same year, God posed a difficult question to James: "Can I withdraw my hand of blessing on your life, and you still trust me?" What followed was a seven-year period of profound hardship, marked by financial struggles, bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, and unexplainable illness. James and his family went from having a life of abundant prosperity to selling furniture and even his wife's wedding ring to put food on the table. Despite the adversity, James emerged from this season with a deepened understanding of who God is. The hope, healing, comfort, and encouragement he found in God during those challenging years now serve as a source of inspiration for countless others facing their own trials.
Experience
James has been married to his wife Salissa for twenty-five years and they have two teenage children, Maddox and Marissa. For nearly a decade, James served as the Small Groups and Community Outreach Pastor at Free Chapel, overseeing 500+ small groups, volunteer teams, and community outreach teams across six campuses. In addition to this role, he managed multiple pastors and administrative staff. James taught within Free Chapel's School of Discipleship for more than ten years and Free Chapel College for seven years. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Christian Leadership and has over 25 years' experience working as a sales professional and top performer in distribution, manufacturing and real estate sales. He currently resides in Gainesville Georgia.