our story

Our Story
The Roads We've Travelled

Read more of James' story
Read more of Meredith's' story

James
"Because I live, you will live also." - Jesus Christ (John 14:19)

I was raised in the town of Eminence, Kentucky (population 2,000). Located about an hour's drive from the larger cities of Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati, I was exposed to the hustle and bustle of urban living, but enjoyed all the benefits of growing up in a small, country town. The upbringing I received in this close-knitted community provided the foundation for a solidly grounded life.

Brought up in a Christian home, educated in a small school with a graduating class of only
thirty-two, loved and mentored by countless friends and family members, my formative years were happy ones. I excelled in academics, athletics, and extra-curricular activities and was rewarded with the opportunity to attend the University of Kentucky on scholarship.

It was at the age of 15 that I first came to know Jesus Christ in a real, personal way. Sparked by my experience at an Acquire the Fire (Teen Mania Ministries) youth convention, I began to pursue a relationship with God whole-heartedly, in a new and radical way. This soon led to a deeper involvement with my church youth group and many fun-filled adventures with my best friend, Buddy Berry. During this time I began to feel God's call - a desire to make ministry my fulltime vocation. Two passions began to emerge within my heart - one for music and the other for preaching. Upon graduation from high school, things looked very promising.

But at age 18, life would quickly take a turn for the worse. Now on my own and immersed in college life, I began a slow decent into sprititual darkness. The faith, morality, and beliefs I had so strongly held were now being challenged. Sadly enough, my Christian immaturity led to compromise after compromise. Gradually, this newfound independence, coupled with a desire to "experience life", resulted in the abandonment of my faith.

For the next eight years, I would reap what I sowed. Over time, I became a slave to sin, having fallen for its deceptions and enticements. Looking for fulfillment in everything but God, I turned to the world's temporary pleasures. This resulted in a life devoid of meaning - one of depression, cynicism, and bitterness.

But, at that critical moment of apparent hopelessness, God lovingly reached out once again. I realized that I was wrong - more wrong than I had ever been in my life. I had turned my back on God, wanting to make it on my own. Furthermore, I was guilty. Guilty of unspeakable things which weighed heavily on my conscience. Things I couldn't find forgiveness for and wrongs that I just could not make right. And I knew that one day I would have to stand before God and give an account for my life. Judgment was coming. Finally, I realized that nothing could fill that emptiness in my heart - not money, or a career, or possessions, or human relationships - but God.

So, what did I do? I humbled myself before a gracious and forgiving God. I confessed my sin: my rebellion, my pride, my doubt, my blasphemy. I decided that I wanted to change, that I wanted my life to be different. And that's when it happened - in came God's amazing grace and mercy. Forgiven, God had given me another chance, a new life, and new meaning and purpose.

From that day on, nothing was the same. I devoted the next year to restoring my relationship with God. He led me to Youth with a Mission, where I completed a Crossroads Discipleship Training School. I was able to serve in the mission fields of Thailand and China. I began to develop and utilize the ministry skills of musical worship, preaching, and evangelism. And I met, fell in love with, and married my wife Meredith.

Since then, God has continued to work wonders in my life. From 2006 to 2010, I served at First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills. During that time I earned my Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.  In January of 2011, I began Ph.D. studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In May 2007, God blessed me with a true wonder - my little girl Eden Moriah.  In 2010, my second daughter, Joelle Elizabeth arrived. Fatherhood is no easy thing, but through this amazing experience and responsibility, I'm gaining new insight into the incredible love God has for each of us. Who knows what the future holds? If it's anything like the past, it'll be a incredible!

Meredith
"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ ..." - The Apostle Paul (Philippians 3:8-10)

I was born in the Midwestern city of Emporia, Kansas to two extraordinary and amazing parents. Raised Presbyterian, baptized as a baby, I began my pursuit of God, literally, at an early age. At the age of ten, my family - two parents, four daughters, and two cats - moved to Seattle, Washington. 

Over the next several years, I devoted myself to the Arts, pursuing excellence in dance, voice, and drama. I knew “about God” from my Presbyterian upbringing, but didn’t “know Him” in a personal, intimate way. In fact, I didn’t know this was even possible. Sadly, over time, my family stopped attending church. This produced a void in my heart where God belonged.

During my late teens and early twenties, many things were sought to fill that empty place in my heart – the place only God could fill. I looked to people, food, work, hobbies, alcohol, money, material possessions, etc., and always ended up disappointed. I explored deep within my soul, trying everything - psychotherapy, counseling, self-help books - but came up empty. Desperately looking for answers and still searching for purpose and meaning, I returned to church and religion. At this point though, I still did not “know Him.”

After college, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. My dream was to become a leading lady in film and have a life of luxury - beautiful clothes, cars, and homes. My fame and fortune would be a vehicle in which I could make charitable contributions to a suffering world. However, during this time in Los Angeles, God slowly began to reveal Himself in a new way. As I came nearer and nearer to the end of myself, I realized that my own attempts to create satisfaction, fulfillment, and purpose were failing miserably. And that’s when God began to draw near. I became a member of Oasis Christian Center, whose teaching and fellowship took me one step closer to an abundant life in Christ.

After three years in L.A., I began to have the desire to make some drastic life-changes. I had been chasing a dream that had left me empty. In the midst of my frustration, God spoke. In a gentle, almost audible voice, God put these words in my heart: “I have so much more for you.” I replied, ”What?” Once again God said, “Meredith, I have so much more for you.”

And I believed Him. I somehow knew what God was saying - that He had much more to offer, definitely more than anything like diamonds, fame, and fortune. The world had told me that such things would make me feel complete. But at that very moment, I knew that God was telling me to let go of it all. I had to stop believing the lies. And that’s when I decided to forsake the world for Him. I turned my back, began walking towards Christ, and resolved never to look back.

You might ask: “Was it worth the risk? Wasn’t making that decision scary?” Yes, but it was more risky and scary not to heed His words.

So after that, I left Los Angeles in hot pursuit of God - on a mission to know Him and His will. God led me to YWAM in Kona, Hawaii, where I completed a Discipleship Training School. During the program, God showed me a glimpse of His infinite love. And then, over time, He revealed more and more and more. Before YWAM, I had believed in and knew “about God.” I knew I must have been created for a reason - that there had to be more to God than a superficial, impersonal relationship between Creator and creation. But in Kona, I went much deeper. The Lord taught me things I didn’t realize existed and in ways I didn’t know were possible.

I learned about His great sacrifice on the Cross. I learned about the extreme price He paid for our sins, redeeming us from death. And He healed my heart from the pains of the past. I began to believe, with all my being, that NO ONE and NO THING could ever fill my heart with the love, joy, and peace that is in Christ Jesus. I learned how God freely gives such blessings through grace and that even in the valleys of life He will never leave you nor forsake you. In fact, the Lord's desire is to give abundantly to all of His children and have a relationship with each and every one of us.

Thus, my mission in life is to share the incomparable knowledge and love of Jesus Christ to all those willing to listen. To top it all off, God not only blessed me with a deeper knowledge and relationship with Him, but threw in a bonus - an amazing husband. This was truly more than I could have asked for or imagined. Now James and I are living a life dedicated to knowing God, loving Him, and helping others achieve the same - what a great adventure!