Get to Know Me
About Me
Christ-follower. Husband. Dad. Pastor. Aggie.
Add headshotimages/hero.jpg
Dr. James Jordan
Dr. James Jordan serves as Executive Pastor at a large, growing church in Forney, Texas, just east of Dallas. It's the kind of church where the community is booming, the church is growing, and the complexity of the mission requires unique approaches to ministry, and he wouldn't have it any other way!
As Executive Pastor, on a good day James is the connective tissue between the vision of the Senior Pastor and the execution at the ground level. He oversees the day-to-day operational and organizational life of the church, manages staff and teams, stewards the budget, and makes sure the Senior Pastor can stay in his highest-impact lane. It's a behind-the-scenes role that suits him well.
James is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, Gig 'Em, where his love for leadership, community, and service took deep root in the Fightin' Texas Corps of Cadets. He went on to earn his doctorate with a focus on organizational leadership in the local church context, and has spent the years since putting theory to the test in the real, beautiful, sometimes-chaotic life of a church striving to become a large family of small to medium sized churches.
He is married to his best friend, Chrissy, and together they have three kids: Jessica (20, currently at Texas A&M in the Corps of Cadets), Hannah (17, at Forney High School), and Aaron (10, at First Baptist Academy Dallas).
"God doesn't call the Executive Pastor to be in charge. He calls them to make sure the right person is. For some of us, the second chair isn't a consolation prize. It's a calling."
Dr. James JordanWhat Drives Him
Pastor James Jordan isn't motivated by titles or platforms. He's motivated by impact, specifically, the compounding impact that happens when church leaders are healthy, equipped, and aligned around a clear mission set by the Senior Pastor of the church. Here's what gets him out of bed:
- The local church. The local church boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful institution on the planet for human flourishing. He's not cynical about the potential of the local church, and he won't let you be either.
- Developing leaders. Legacy in ministry is defined by the people you raise up and leave behind. Internship, Residency, and a healthy leadership pipeline are essential to raising up the next generation of leaders.
- Organizational health. Healthy culture produces healthy teams. Healthy teams lead healthy churches. James has seen what happens when the org chart doesn't match the vision and he's passionate about closing that gap.
- The second chair. The XP role is often misunderstood. James is on a mission to change that and to foster thriving SP/XP relationships in churches all around him.
- Family and community. James measures the success of his ministry by what's happening in his own home. He is deeply committed to living the people and place where God has called them.
- Prayer and the Word. For too many churches, the lack of emphasis on seeking a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and a movement of God through prayer and personal consecration has produced anemic churches. James is committed to helping churches return their focus to abiding in Christ.