The Kingdom Herald by Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc.

April 2013 Kingdom Herald | Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc. 1 AThe KBA Publication www.kingdomunion.org Free

P. O. Box 24669 | Fort Worth, Texas 76124 (817) KBA-3049 | kba@kingdomunion.org | www.kingdomunion.org Publishers Rev. Antwon D. James, President/CEO Bishop Umiko D. Jones, General Secretary

In This Issue

Contributors Tremaine Combs

The Cost of Never Saying . . . 4

Tony Morgan

Spotlight on Members . . . 5

Chris Wesley Lionell Smith, Jr.

How to Tell If You’re Called to Ministry . . . 7

Charlie Carroll

Church Planting: Where Should I Begin? . . . 8

Thom Schultz

The Perfect Length for a Sermon . . . 10

Kevin DeYoung Articles appear courtesy of ChurchLeaders.com Do you have an article or a column you would like to have published, have an event you want advertised? E-mail The Kingdom Herald with your information as kingdomhearld@kingdomunion.org please include your name & church/organization information. All items must be received by the 12th of each month; TKH will be published on the 14th of every month. We reserve the right to refuse to publish content we deem inappropriate.

4 Key Steps to Mentoring Teens . . . 15 It’s a Nice Day for a White Wedding – What is Marriage? . . . 12 Meet the President . . . 17 Free E-Book . . . 19

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A Note from the Publisher . . . . I want to welcome you to the inaugural publication of our monthly digital magazine, The Kingdom Herald. Our purpose in presenting this publication is to keep our members informed as well as presenting relevant and relational articles and columns as it relates to leadership in the Kingdom of God. We want you to know, welcome to submit publishing. Coming opportunity for speakers and psalmist in TKH, free of charge. is firstly for the Kingdom Builders we extend an open invitation to

you are more than your content for soon we will offer the churches, ministries, to advertise them here Although this publication membership of the Association of America, Inc. everyone to read it.

We will offer a feature on our website soon that will allow you to automatically subscribe to TKH. Stay tuned this is just the beginning!

Antwon D. James President/CEO, Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc. Publisher, The Kingdom Herald

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The Cost of Never Saying No by Tony Morgan

The easy thing to do is just let every ministry promote whatever they want whenever they want to. Never say no. Never prioritize messages. Your failure to lead when it comes to prioritizing communications is pushing people away.

Just let everyone do whatever they want. That way you never have to face the tough calls of explaining to a ministry leader why their event will not be promoted from the platform or the bulletin.

When you do that, though, know that you’re choosing to make life more difficult for the people you are trying to engage. You are overwhelming them with competing messages. Some of those messages are important. Some are not. It doesn’t matter, though, because you’re unwilling to lead. A friend recently shared the story of the ministry leader who sent a promotional email message to the entire church database. It was a message for a small portion of the church that went to everyone. Twenty people unsubscribed immediately from all future email messages. All of those twenty people were “unconnected” in ministry and membership. They were the very people this church was trying to reach. Your failure to lead when it comes to prioritizing communications is pushing people away. It’s making it harder for people to take their next steps toward Christ. If all they’re concerned about is who shows up to their event, ministry leaders don’t care. Their win is the church’s loss. It’s impossible to please everyone and accomplish a compelling mission at the same time.

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. . . . honour to whom honour. Romans 13:7

Minister Lionell Smith, Jr. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sir Smithâ&#x20AC;? 5

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Known to most by the name of Lionell, Buster, or SIR SMITH, Minister Lionell Smith, Jr. accepted his calling to the clergy in the summer of 1998. Raised and reared in the city of Beaumont, Texas, his humble beginnings started at the Greater Love Zion COGIC (formerly Greater Little Zion), under the leadership of his great uncle and aunt, the late chairman Adam Smith, Sr & Emeritus Supervisor, Mother Ruby L. Smith. While honing from the pillars of Christian faith set before him, his mother, Sandra G. Tapscott, auntie, Mary Wright, and grandfather, Eld. Horace Smith, all carriers of the gospel, contributed to something greater that God had planned for his life. From the seed of faith planted, surfaced a spiritual rebirth experience in January 1992, resulting in Lionell receiving Christ as His Lord & Savior. While serving alongside Pastors Anthony & Judy Walker at the Open Door Church in Austin, Texas, he was licensed and recognized as an ordained COGIC minister in September 1998. Minister Lionell Smith, Jr. later attended the Rally Call Institute of Austin, Texas and received his Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Christian Studies in June 2008. Minister Smith continues to accomplish all that God has set before him. With much prayer, determination, and his continued faith in Christ, he is determined to serve God both musically, and as a minister of the gospel. He lives his daily life aiming to fulfill II Corinthians5:18; the ministry of reconciling men and women back to God through Jesus Christ.

Min. Lionell Smith music artistry presented by the title of . . . . SIR SMITH Artist & Fan support www.sirsmith.com (To hear him & his music visit YouTube Music & Videos) see below! SIRSMITHMUSIC'S YouTube channel! (Click on video playlist over 20+ videos) Booking the music artistry of SIR SMITH, contact KRL Media Management! Email: krlmedia@gmail.com Phone: 512.644.8200 6

Workshop coordinator for Christian Music & Performing Arts teams. Entitled: Perfecting The Sound! Email: perfectingthesound@gmail.com Phone: KRL Media Management, 512.644.8200 Worship Pastor of Music & Arts Department Open Door COGIC Austin, TX www.opendooraustin.org

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How to Tell If Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Called to Ministry by Kevin DeYoung I've been asked the question many times, and I'm not sure I agree with it.

Pastoral ministry is weighty work, not to be entered into lightly. 10 key questions.

The question often assumes that pastors, unique among all the vocations of the world, will (and sometimes must) have a powerful, divine, subjective call to ministry that overwhelmingly points them in their God-ordained direction. I don't see support for that sort of normative experience in Scripture.

But I understand what young men are looking for. They understand that pastoral ministry is weighty work, not to be entered into lightly. So naturally they want to know that their inclinations are not self-serving and their direction is not a fool's errand. They are looking for a few signposts along the way to show them that they're not obviously on the wrong road. That's a commendable impulse. Here are several questions you should ask yourself as you ponder a call to pastoral ministry. 1. Do I meet the qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1? This is the place to start. If your character is not mature, stable and (in a nonperfectionist way) exemplary, then you are not ready to be a pastor. This does not necessarily mean you are on the wrong path if you don't yet have victory over certain sins (like pornography), but it means that you won't be ready until you meet the Scriptural standards. 2. Do the Christians who know me best consistently affirm my gifts for ministry? The most important call is the objective call of your church encouraging you to pursue pastoral ministry. 3. Do I like to teach all kinds of people in all kinds of settings? Most people thinking of pastoral ministry are excited to preach. I want to know if they are excited to preach at the Rescue Mission and excited to teach catechism to five-year-olds. 4. Do I find myself stirred by good preaching? If a man is called to preach the gospel, he should be thrilled to hear it preached. The content should move him, and he should find himself thinking, "Oh, that I could proclaim this good news." 7

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5. Do I find myself stirred by bad preaching? The last point was obvious. This one is less so, but just as important. I think there ought to be a fire in a man's bones when he hears the word of God handled badly. 6. Do I enjoy being around people? Some pastors are extroverts; many are not. I'm sort of in the middle. I look forward to being with people more than some pastors I know, but not nearly as much as many men I admire. But whatever your personality, you won't be a good pastor if you don't like people and recoil from them as much as possible. 7. Do I make friends easily? This is a subjective test (like so many of these questions), but a lack of meaningful friendships is not a good sign. It could be an indication that you are too harsh, too much of a loner, or, frankly, too awkward to be effective in pastoral ministry. 8. Do I like to read? Thankfully there is no GPA or SAT requirement for pastoral ministry. And yet, if we are to be "apt to teach" we must be eager to learn. Preaching grows thin and ministry get stale without time in the Book and the books. 9. Have I thought about doing this for more than a few months? Often when students or adults come to Christ, they quickly assume that because they are zealous for the Lord they ought to go to seminary and prepare for the ministry. This is usually misguided, sometimes because of pride and sometimes due to misplaced zeal. There's a reason the Bible insists that church leaders not be recent converts.

Church Planting: Where Should I Begin? by Charlie Carroll My church recently celebrated our five year anniversary. It's been a long five years. Like most plants, there has been blood, sweat and tears. Within the first two years, two members of our congregation, both under 20, went to be with Jesus. We changed locations three times and, on a good weekend, did well to have $1,000 come in. Couple this with people problems, turmoil and turnover and you can see why giving up often seemed like the best solution. 8

But we didn't. This past Sunday we had 200 people in the building â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a 50,000-square-foot building we now own in the center of our city worth 10 times the amount we owe. It gets better. In the last six months, we've seen more visitors, volunteers and victories than ever before. Don't Give Up Even with the hardest of starts, success is possible. If God called you to it, He can bring you through it. Be confident! He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Success is possible.

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However, I've learned that just because success is possible doesn't mean that it won't be painful. Five problematic years of planting has taught me that pain is often the best soil for potential. This said, it's important to acknowledge that not all pain is beneficial. It's why, if I could do it again, I would do one thing differently: I would work to know what I don't know. This is so important! At all costs, before you plant, know (learn) what you do not know. This is something my dad use to say all the time, and it flew over my head for too long. It's not that you have to have all the answers or be able to solve every solution. You just need to know what you do not know and then identify who can help. Nothing is more painful or problematic than learning the hard way. For example, I didn't know that working with a creative leader would be so different than working with other leaders. I didn't have the tools or maturity to manage and lead someone who approached ministry and life so differently. When I met with another senior pastor, he told me simply to "give them direction and give them space to be creative." This small piece of advice changed the relationship I had with the worship leader and paved the way for greater effectiveness. It also helped us avoid many unnecessary conflicts. It's important to know what you do not know in the following three areas: • • •

Spiritually Strategically Operationally

Spiritually: I used to think that Paul's list of character qualities for leaders in 1 Timothy 3 was more like a bouncer checking ID's to see who was qualified. Not anymore. It's a list of resources you'll need — a survival guide. Planting will test every ounce of who you are. Knowing this beforehand would have changed my perspective on the importance of partnering with other pastors. Strategically: It took me too long to know about great planting organizations like ARC (Association of Related Churches). ARC can help a planter know what they do not know and literally save them from making thousands of mistakes. Operationally: Structure, structure, structure. Save yourself. Planting a church is the same as starting a business only with more people and politics. Find an A+ operations guy that lives for building spreadsheets and structure. If you do not have one, go find one in the business community and ask him what you do not know. Strategically: It took me too long to know about great planting organizations like ARC (Association of Related Churches). ARC can help a planter know what they do not know and literally save them from making thousands of mistakes. Operationally: Structure, structure, structure. Save yourself. Planting a church is the same as starting a business only with more people and politics. Find an A+ operations guy that lives for building spreadsheets and structure. If you do not have one, go find one in the business community and ask him what you do not know. You cannot eliminate pain from the process, but you can prevent a lot of it. To do this you'll have to know what you do not know. 9

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The Perfect Length for a Sermon by Thom Schultz A denominational executive recently chided pastors in his tribe for inflicting “spiritual starvation” on their flocks. The crime? Brief sermons. After skimming a sermon on a pastor’s blog, the denominational leader wrote: “It could not have been more than eight minutes long, if that! This is, sadly, not some exception. It is in keeping with a disturbing trend: shorter and shorter sermons. We cannot expect our congregations to remain healthy and put them on a preaching starvation diet.”

Why do preachers attempt to manufacture lectures that fill the identical time allotment, week after week?

This misguided executive has been duped by the myth of “more is better.” I’m afraid he’s assuming his longed-for long sermons achieve far more than they really do. The Goal And Not We need to be clear about the goal of a sermon or message time. To me, it’s to help draw people into a closer relationship with the Lord — to help them know, love and follow him. And we need to be clear about what is NOT the goal. The sermon’s goal should not be ... •

To dispense information. We’re drowning in information. We no longer need an information middleman. We need a transformation guide.

•

To showcase the speaker’s oratory skills. It’s not about the messenger.

•

To prove to the congregation that the preacher studied all week.

•

To deify or overexalt the sermon. Yes, God is holy. God’s Word is holy. But a human’s sermon is, well, human. God can work through it. But that’s God doing the supernatural stuff, on his terms.

Sermon Limits When it comes to determining the perfect sermon length, we need to know the limitations of the medium: Lecture method. Of all the forms of communication and inspiration, the lecture method is among the least fruitful. Research shows people remember just 10 percent or less of what they hear in a lecture or sermon. Most of those well-prepared words are quickly lost. Forever. The longer the sermon, the more that’s forgotten. Finite attention spans. Everyone knows children’s attention spans are short. But adults’ ability to concentrate on a speaker’s words is similarly short — about seven minutes. They’re just better at masking it. (Pastor, even though I’m looking at you and maybe even nodding, I’m actually daydreaming about what I’m going to do after church.) 10

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Passive form. Most preachers still employ a passive, spectator approach to the sermon time. They do all the talking. And because the people sit without the opportunity to interact or process what they’re hearing, they fail to engage in a meaningful way. Some may be entertained, but rarely moved. Human wiring. People consume, learn and apply communication in different ways. Some process predominately through their eyes. Others internalize primarily through action. And some process chiefly through their ears. The latter are the auditory learners. They do better with sermons. The problem is, they’re in the minority. (I suspect many, if not most, preachers are auditory learners who often assume, dangerously, everyone learns as they do.) The Ideal Length First, the length of the sermon is not the point. The point is ... the point. However long or short it takes to make a lasting point. Using a variety of supporting ideas, Scriptures, stories, visuals, experiences and interaction, an effective message might take 20 or 30 minutes. Or it may take five minutes. No two messages are identical. So, why do preachers attempt to manufacture lectures that fill the identical time allotment, week after week? Why not allow other elements of a worship service to expand and shrink? I think some preachers believe those of us in the pews will feel cheated if the sermon runs 10 minutes short. Trust me on this, if we sense God moving us within a five-minute message, we won’t complain. Starvation Diet? Our society and our congregations may be suffering from some spiritual starvation. But it’s not because our preachers are not long winded enough. The denominational executive concluded his remarks about sermons with a suggestion that any preacher who delivers even an occasional short sermon should be removed from ministry. Be careful, sir. One who is guilty of your condemnations was, in fact, quite effective with the short-form message. That was 2,000 years ago. People are still talking about his brief, punchy stories and lessons. He could have turned every opportunity into a 30-minute lecture. He certainly had plenty he could have shared. But he knew his audience. And his goal. He didn’t buy the “more is better” myth: I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now. — John 16:12

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It’s a Nice Day for a White Wedding – What is Marriage? by Tremaine Combs In the world that we live in, there are many different views and understandings about marriage. Often times unknown to us, we have embedded in us understandings and ideas of marriage that may not mesh with the person that we are in relationship with. Sometimes the consequences of these different views of marriage range from the comical to the painful, to the deadly. Let’s think about how many times a marriage was destroyed because the two people involved did not have an honest discussion about the pre-conceived notions about marriage that they brought to the table. Let’s think of how many relationships could have been strengthened had the two people involved sought to understand the different understandings of marriage that they had and then match those to God’s view. In looking at how most Americans view marriage; we can see four understandings about marriage playing a very large role. 1.) Roman- In the Roman legal system, marriage was seen as a contract of mutual benefit between two people and their families. This contract was for the maximizing of wealth and power. Because of this, marriages were not so much thought of as loving relationships, but as business transactions that could be ended if the rights of the other were infringed upon. In a sense this concept of the marriage as a business led to couples seeing each other as collateral or property (and in time this became more and more the role of the woman in the marriage in Western Europe). 2.) Jewish- In the ancient Hebraic and Jewish concept of marriage, the goal and purpose of marriage was seen as the proper procreation of children, and in particular sons. The goal of marriage was the building of a legacy and the preservation of lineage for the passing of property and in some cases Divine blessing. 3.) Modern- The modern concept of marriage saw a steady rise in the West from the Industrial Revolution of the 1840’s and found its peak in the middle twentieth century during the 1950’s and 1980’s. In this understanding of marriage, the relationship was seen as a connection based upon commitment. Marriage was seen as the arena where the needs and fulfillment of each person was met by the other through mutual love and companionship. 4.) Postmodern- With the rise of the 1980’s and beyond, marriage was seen as one stop on the road of experience. In a sense marriage to the postmodern mind is seen as another way “I” find self-fulfillment. Instead of asking how can I complete you, people now ask, “How can you complete me?” It is a view that it totally self-centered. I’m sure that many of us can remember an experience where one of these views was lifted up to us as the definitive understanding of marriage. And I’m sure we have even heard Christian people express at least one if not more of these views from the pulpit or the pew. But what is the Christian understanding of marriage? There has to be one, but the question is what is it and how would we know. In order to understand the Christian view of marriage, we have to look in two places, the Tradition of the Apostles, which is rooted (and expressed to a degree) in the 12

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scriptures. In the reading for this session, you have been exposed to both the Western Christian and Eastern Christian understanding of marriage, and in looking at both we can see that the common thread in understanding marriage from a Christian point of view is that 1) Marriage is all about Jesus and, 2) Marriage is a mystery/sacrament. In looking at these two views, we see that if marriage is all about Jesus, then there must be some purpose for us being married that is greater than procreation, property, fulfillment, experience, or even sex. Marriage is given to us so that through the fires of marriage, we are made more like Christ Jesus. To the Christian, marriage is rooted in the eternal and transforms us through exposure to pleasure and pain, ease and difficulty, into icons (pictures and windows) of the Lord Jesus to the Church. If this is the case, then marriage is very important and no wonder marriage is under such attack. In fact if we look at scripture, human history begins and ends with marriage. It begins with the marriage of Adam and Eve in the garden and it ends with the marriage of the Lord Jesus to His Church (Genesis 2 and Revelation 19). But while we see how a Christian should look at marriage, it still doesn’t give a clear view of its purpose. In order to understand the purpose of marriage we have to begin with a debate about marriage we find in the gospels in Mark 10:1-2 (also in Matthew 19:1-12). In this debate, the Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus responses (in the account in Mark) with asking them to tell what Moses commanded in the law (Deut 24:1-4), then goes on to explain that divorce is a necessary evil due to the cruelty within the hearts of people, but it was never God’s intention. Instead Jesus lifts up the point that God’s intention in marriage was the union of two people into such an interwoven bond that they are considered one flesh (a picture of the Christian life too) and what God has joined must be left alone and even then it’s not for everyone. In these passages Jesus lifts marriage from the hands of humans and puts it back in the hands of God, in that God must be the chief actor in marriage from beginning to end. Jesus makes the point that in order to understand marriage and how it is affected by sin, we have to go to the beginning. Let us now go back to Gen. 2:18-25. Genesis 2:18-25 In these verses we see several things about marriage that we must understand. I.)

II.)

III.)

Divine Marriage remedies our isolation a. Difference between isolation and solitude b. God recognizes our need for connection before we do c. God seeks to remedy our isolation Divine marriage necessitates maturity a. Adam didn’t know he was alone until God gave him a job to do b. Adam realized that he was different from everything else c. Adam desired relationship with an equal (Woman and Man are both created in God’s image) Divine marriage comes from God’s initiation 13

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IV.)

a. God has to prepare both man and woman b. God has to bring the woman to the man Divine marriage provides purifying intimacy a. Man has to recognize woman as His own flesh b. This recognition is a sign of maturity and self-understanding c. Man seeks to build with His half (fulfill his God given purpose Gen 1:26) d. Man and woman are naked (intimacy and knowledge) and not ashamed (no sin or iniquity/pure).

So let us return to this ancient debate between Jesus and the Pharisees. Now we can see how Jesus brings God back into the picture of marriage. In Deuteronomy 24, the man finds a wife. According to Jesus, unless God finds your mate for you, divorce will happen all the time. But even in divorce, we must recognize the Image of God in both man and woman, in that both can divorce, but both are guilty of sin because both misused marriage and forsook Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original design.

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4 Key Steps to Mentoring Teens by Chris Wesley After a long night of “studying,” I remember wondering whether or not I would encounter Father B on my way back to the dorms. He was the residential Jesuit at my freshman dorm on Xavier University’s campus. Each and every time, as if he were waiting for me, there he was just hanging out. As I passed by, not wanting to make eye contact, I would hear him say in Mentoring is an essential the most loving and genuine tone, “Good morning, part of any youth ministry. Saint.” Mentoring is an essential part to any youth ministry. While it’s not the first system to establish, it’s one that should eventually be incorporated into what you do. It’s through mentoring that you can rise up the next generation and teach them to seek out wisdom from those who have traveled the journey ahead of them. So if you are looking to establish a mentoring program in your ministry, it’s important to keep in mind these four steps: 1. Create a Path: Teenagers are constantly being shaped into what they are supposed to do; however, rarely are they asked, “Who do you want to be?” This is probably the most important question you can ask a teen. And it should be the first question you ask when mentoring them. This question sets a direction and casts a vision. It helps you know where to go with them. 2. Give Them Application: It’s easy to fill someone’s head with knowledge; however, how much they retain can be a mystery. The more application for your information, the more likely the teen you mentor will remember. When you mentor someone, it’s important to incorporate tangible habits that will lead to personal growth. 3. Meet Consistently: The best way to build a habit is to maintain a sense of consistency. If there is too much time between each meeting or communication you can’t expect to see exponential growth. An effective mentoring program is not just a one-time deal or something that meets quarterly. If you want to walk with someone through life, you need to make sure that you are meeting consistently on a weekly to monthly basis while communicating by email or text in between. The more they are reminded that you are near, the more they are reminded of what needs to be accomplished. 4. Sit in Their Messes: If you really get to know someone, sooner or later you are going to witness a disorientation that they are facing. Mentoring isn’t about fixing someone’s problems or messes, it’s about walking with them through the darkness. You are not going to have all the answers, and that’s okay. What you can provide for your student is solidarity, and sometimes that goes farther than the wisdom you might dump on them. Since you cannot meet with every student in your ministry one on one, it’s important to raise up other mentors to serve alongside of you. It’s not a ministry that you should start up right away if you are new to youth ministry. Establish a foundation through small groups, worship and ministry. It’s with mentoring that you take students deeper, create leaders, and set them up for success after they leave school. Do you have a mentoring program in your ministry? If so, what does it look like? 15

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Meet Our President Reverend Antwon D. James Born Monday, November 9th, 1987; to the parentage of Ms. Beverly R. James & Mr. Hosea Jones, Jr.; Rev. Antwon D. James is truly a man after God's own heart. He has a drive and desire to fulfill the Master's call of preaching unto the uttermost parts of the world; fulfilling the Great Commission is at the core of his overall ministry. Rev. James began his journey with Christ at the Historic Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church; under the leadership of the late Rev. Biven Whitfield (B. W.) Lockett. He has been extremely active in the church ever since. Rev. James first began attending church with his grandmother the late Sis. Freddie Mae Hubbard-James. Ironic to man, but divinely placed by God, Rev. James answered the call to the Gospel Ministry January 4, 1999, exactly one year to the death of the passing of his beloved grandmother. Rev. James was born and raised in the great city of Fort Worth, Texas. Being a lifelong member of the city’s Stop Six Community. After faithfully serving the as an Associate & Youth resigned under good and mandate of God on his

Ebenezer Church for 7 years Pastor, he prayerfully standing, to pursue the vision life.

During this time, Rev. ordained into the Gospel Wildcat, being a member of the historic Paul School.

James was licensed and Ministry. He is a proud of the 2006 Graduating Class Laurence Dunbar High

In October of 2007, Rev. James began to gain a stronger personal relationship with Christ, in order to better lead God's people the way he would have him to. For it is found in Luke 6:41-43, “How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Rev. James has been elected and asked to serve as an adviser, state president, or board member of many foundations and organizations. In January 2008, Rev. James prayerfully began preparing to establish the Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc. an organization not only for ministers but for church leaders as well. And with the grace of God, on February 14, 17

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2008, the day of love, the Kingdom Builders Association of America, Inc. was officially established. He is also the spiritual help to many who look to him for spiritual guidance in their lives, ministries; as well management and administration in various businesses and corporations. He does not claim to have all the answers but is connected to the source of all knowledge, Jesus Christ. He is a member of the LaDale Missionary Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas under the leadership of Pastor Christopher R. Woods, Sr. Rev. James is proud to have worked alongside and played an integral part of the staff and management of Williams Funeral Chapel, Regal Limousine, and JMTS Non-Emergency Transport being the youngest person to hold management of such companies. In September of 2009 Rev. James's entrepreneurship was shown with the founding of Elite, Inc. a multifaceted company focusing on the funeral industry, business & ministry administrative and graphic design consultations.

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