Community Discipleship Assisting Pastor

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Army Veteran, Sometimes Funny, Always Interesting, Follower of Christ Jesus.

I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 3 years old. My grandfather baptized me when I was 10. I was headed towards ministry until I lost everything at the age of 15 – my dad suffered a massive nervous breakdown that left him mentally incapacitated and my mom died from kidney failure. I was on my own as a young teen. I tried to drown the pain with substances and physical relationships. Things became so bad, I got kicked out of church. Around that time, I changed schools and found the theatre community. Through performance, I found an emotional outlet that was creative rather than destructive. I also met my future wife (Tena) at that school. She did my makeup for a play.

After graduating high school, I joined the Army to impress Tena’s family. We were married soon after I graduated from basic training. I was stationed at Ft. Myer, VA (Arlington National Cemetery) where I performed in hundreds of full-honor funerals as a part of a 7-man firing party. I then served as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns. After the Army, we moved back to CA and attended Fresno State, where I earned a B.A. in Theatre/Acting. Then we moved to L.A. to pursue a Hollywood career.

Quite a few years later, I somehow found myself in a massive Passion Play at a mega church. I was cast as Jesus and a heavy burden weighed on my heart. Was this career worth it? Was my life going to be summed up with my film/TV credits, or would it be possible to change gears and do something with an eternal value? I asked God to remove Hollywood from my heart so that I could be free to serve in ministry without having a heart divided. He eventually did remove that desire and I was set free to serve Him completely.

I then earned an M.A. in Ministry/Christian Leadership from Hope International University and later an M.Div. also from HIU. We prayed for direction and the door to Idaho Falls opened up. We moved here in December, 2016 and haven’t looked back to California even once (we were afraid of turning into pillars of salt). Once here, I served as the Connections Pastor at CrossPoint. I also completed a D.Min. in Preaching from Lincoln Christian University. I felt compelled to earn a doctorate since my wife, Tena, earned hers several years ago from USC…I just couldn’t go through life as, “Dr. Tena…and James.”

Married 28 years to the love of my life. We have 7 boys, 1 daughter-in-law, 3 grandchildren, 2 dogs, 1 cat and a whole bunch of ducks and chickens. I belong to the Aamjiwnaang First Nation (my great-grandfather was the last bloodline chief). I came in 2nd place on Wipeout (it was the Soccer Special where the big red balls were soccer balls). I was adopted. I secretly wish for Spiderman’s powers.

We look forward to seeing how God will use us here at Watersprings!