Meet Pastor James
Pastor Aaron M. James Sr. has a tremendous
passion for God’s word coupled with a love for
God’s people. He has a contagious spirit of
generosity that flows through every facet of his
ministry. Having received his mandate from God,
Pastor James obediently fulfills his calling as
Senior Pastor.
Called to ministry in 1991,
under the leadership of the late Rev. W.F.
Cotton at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
in Rochester, New York, Pastor James began his
ministry as an itinerant preacher, sharing the
gospel in cities throughout the nation at a very
young age. In 2003, he was called to be the
third pastor of Second Olivet Missionary Baptist
Church, a historical beacon in Syracuse, New
York for over sixty years. In the eight years of
his pastorate in Syracuse, Pastor James led
Second Olivet in the construction of a $2.2
million dollar edifice growing the congregation
physically and spiritually.
For two years he served as Vice Moderator of
the North Eastern District Baptist Association
then was called to the rank of Moderator for
three years. At the age of 35 Pastor James
served as the youngest Moderator in the Empire
Baptist Missionary Convention of New York.
Pastor James also has a heart for community
outreach and has founded and helped found
several community organizations such as the
Coalition of Urban Pastors and Project Urge,
served on several boards of directors including
the NAACP, Near Westside Initiative and
Interfaith Works, and has received numerous
community, civic, and academic awards and
accolades.
In March 2011 God called and elevated
Pastor James to become the 19th
Pastor of the Historic First Bryan Baptist
Church. On July 10, 2011 the church installed
Pastor James and God has been blessing every
since. God gave Pastor James a vision and
through that he saw the need for some renovation
in First Bryan and as a result of that vision,
First Bryan has completed a $125,000.00
renovation totally debt free! The church has
grown tremendously both spiritually and
numerically under his leadership. A number of
ministries have been reorganized, reinstituted,
and created so that First Bryan is ready to
follow God in the 21st century.
Pastor James has walked through the halls of
academia having attended Genesee Community
College, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Faith
Theological Seminary. Pastor James has a goal of
completing his Doctor of Divinity and is well on
his way of reaching that goal. 
In 1995 Pastor James married his high school
sweetheart Theresa L. James and God has since
blessed them with five children. Pastor and
First Lady James truly believe in family
and have built their marriage and family on the
fundamental belief in the Word of God knowing
that the Word is true in 1 Timothy 3:5
“For if a man know not how to rule his own
house, how shall he take care of the church of
God?” and Proverbs 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife
findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of
the LORD.”
Pastor and Lady James are currently in the
process of co-authoring their first book
"Journey To Your Destiny" a personal memoir of
the journey that God has taken them on to get to
the place that he has ordained for them to be in
ministry and in the family. Pastor James is
also personally authoring a book entitled "The
Blessing of Giving", a guide on how to receive
everything from God by giving Him
your everything.
Pastor James has a heart for God’s people and vision for building God’s kingdom, moving the church into the 21st century. To all of the above, what he is today and ever hopes to be, Pastor James humbly gives HIS LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST ALL THE HONOR, THE GLORY AND THE PRAISE!
