James serves as the Lead Pastor of Coastal Life Church in Palm City, Florida, which he and his wife, Kirsten, planted in their living room in 2008. Today, Coastal Life is a multi-gathering church passionate about helping families find and follow Jesus by sharing the Gospel with crowds while investing deeply in individuals through relational discipleship.

James’ heart for ministry is rooted in 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” This verse captures his passion for not only sharing the message of Jesus but also sharing life with others as they grow in their faith and become disciple-makers.

In addition to leading Coastal Life Church, James serves as a mentor and coach with the Relational Discipleship Network, where he invests in pastors and churches across North America, helping them develop cultures of relational discipleship and equip people to make disciples.

James and Kirsten have two grown children and are enjoying the blessing of a growing family. Their daughter, Kaleigh, and her husband, Tanner, have two children, Hunter and Lainey. Kaleigh also serves as the Student Ministry Director at Coastal Life Church. Their son, Caleb, is marrying Kyla in November 2026, and both are actively involved in the life of the church.

Earlier in his ministry, James served as Youth Pastor at Goshen Baptist Church from 2000 to 2005. Reflecting on those years, he says, “I look back on my time at Goshen as some of my favorite memories in ministry. It is a special place to me, and I am excited and honored to return to Goshen to celebrate 200 years of faithful ministry and the impact this church has made in the community.”