Pastor James King
Biographical Information
Reverend James King is the oldest son of James and Doris King, Sr. of Louisville, Kentucky. Having come from a career Air Force family, Rev. James has had the opportunity to see the United States from many points of view; adding each new experience as a valuable part of his education.
He attended undergraduate studies at Wayland Baptist University with an emphasis in Business and Marketing. Following the leading of the Lord, Rev. James continued his formal education at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Rev. James has served as a Campus Evangelism Coordinator for the Baptist General convention of Texas, Urban Ministries Director for Young Life in Louisville, Kentucky, Youth Pastor and Rites of Passage Director for the St. Stephen Baptist Church and host of a Christian call-in show "Let's Chill.” In addition to his broad range of ministry experience he also served as a Mental Health Therapist for Seven Counties Services in Louisville, Kentucky, and Executive Director of Circle Y Ranch, a residential camping ministry that serves children and teens from the Detroit and Chicago areas.
In 1994 Rev. James accepted the call serve a local congregation in the South Suburbs of Chicago as the Minister of Youth Programming. He was responsible for developing and implementing innovative programs and ministry experiences for children age 2 through college. Along with his friend and ministry partner Rev. Alise Barrymore, an awesome number of quality youth and children’s ministries were created, implemented and maintained. These ministries were designed not only to serve the local congregation’s needs but the families and young people of the entire south suburban community.
In April of 2003 Rev. James stepped away from full-time ministry to rest, reconnect with his family and gain perspective on a new journey that God was preparing for him and his family. During this time Rev. James joined the Urban Ministries, Inc. staff as an associate editor and later editor of InTeen® magazine. On February 22, 2005 a new vision was born. Teaming up with his wife, Patricia, and former ministry partner, Rev. Alise Barrymore, God had given him a new vision to establish a Community of Faith whose heart beats for the disconnected and disenfranchised and whose Core Passions are Relationships, Collaboration, Creativity, Simplicity, Integrity, Collaboration, Growth and Fun. Redefining pastoral leadership and structures, both James and Alise serve collaboratively as The Pastors of The Emmaus Community.
Rev. James' concept of ministry has remained consistent throughout his more than 20 years in ministry: As described in Acts 2:42-47. Our message and methods should be dynamic, creative, challenging and irresistible to unbelievers as well as believers.
Rev. James acknowledges that it has been his beloved wife, Patricia, who encouraged and supported him the most to launch this new journey called “The Emmaus Community.” Together they lovingly encourage and support their daughter Lakeisha (24).
