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andrew james

Pastor

Andrew J. James Jr. is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the son of Michelle Gant and the late Andrew J. James Sr. On November 7th, 1999, James was baptized at Miller Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA, by Pastor Wilkins O. Jones Sr. James was educated in the Philadelphia public school system and graduated from Strawberry Mansion High School, where he excelled as a student leader and role model. As a senior in high school, James directed a 38-minute documentary titled “I Can End Violence.” Motivated by the success of the film, he became a local community activist, with his efforts highlighted by various media outlets, including The Philadelphia Weekly, The Philadelphia Tribune, The Muslim Journal, PBS Digital, Power 99 FM, and 100.3 The Beat Philadelphia.

In 2004, James founded “The Stop the Violence in Unity Organization,” later known as the “Urban Peace Campaign.” This campaign addressed senseless violence in urban communities by working with youth and young adults and providing mentoring, empowerment, and life application workshops. His work in Philadelphia included partnerships with the Philadelphia City Council, The District Attorney of Philadelphia, The FBI community outreach initiative, and the American Muslim Society. Through these collaborations, James organized and led ten anti-violence community weekends in Philadelphia.

In 2006, James pursued higher education at Virginia Union University, graduating with honors in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He continued his education at The Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology, earning a Master of Divinity degree in May 2013. On September 9th, 2018, Rev. James married Nakia Woodruff. They are the proud parents of one child, Adonis Jeremiah, born in October 2023.

In February 2022, Rev. James was elected as the sixth Pastor and the first African American Pastor of Columbia Baptist Fellowship. He is passionate about serving the people of God and has established himself as a servant leader, both within the church and in the broader community. Rev. James is a devoted husband, father, son, mentor, preacher, teacher, and advocate for community and social justice, but above all, he is a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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