Marcus James wears many hats, including that of reverend. “But,” he says, “I’m not big into titles. Just call me Marcus.”

James serves as associate pastor at Greater Grove M.B. Church.

“I got my ordination license (at Greater Grove) under Dr. (Casey) Fisher. I’ve been preaching for years, but more recently got my license.” James finds support and inspiration from Fisher, the lead pastor at Greater Grove, and said, “Dr. Casey Fisher is like a dad to me.”

Although he was raised in church, his faith journey hasn’t always been easy.

In 2019, his mother passed away. James said he struggled with her loss, and now understands how faith saw him through.

“It was hard. I almost walked away from my faith,” he said. “I had to learn to forgive God. God gives us the faith to forgive. Sometimes, it’s challenging.”

After graduating from Warren Central High School, James moved to North Carolina for a time to live with his father. Eventually, he made his way back to Vicksburg, where he worked at Divine Donuts. The early hours required to work at the shop were tough.

“My godfather, Leonard Knight, he was a carpentry instructor at Hinds (County Community College) in Utica, he kept telling me about this TV program down at Hinds in Utica. He said, ‘you need to check it out.’ But I told him college wasn’t for me,” James said.

Not long after that, he changed his mind. James applied to, and was accepted into, the program of Radio and Television Broadcasting Production. His goal is to continue his education until he has received a doctoral degree.

James began his communications career as a news reporter for WJTV in Jackson. From there, his career took several turns until he became employed with Vicksburg Warren School District, where he serves as communications and media specialist director.

With his background in communications, James found he was needed at Greater Grove during Covid. He took charge of live-streaming church services when services couldn’t be held in person. He also enjoys participating in the music ministry and working with youth at Greater Grove.

James feels a special call to minister to young people.

“A lot of people say it starts at home, but it doesn’t anymore. Times have changed. We have a problem in America. We have a problem in Vicksburg. I believe we have what (young people) need, right here.

“God is a mother to the motherless, a father to the fatherless. I believe that it starts at the church. Not at school, the neighborhood . . . it starts at church. What are we teaching these young people that will help them and change the trajectory of their life forever? We meet the children where they are,” James said.

“There’s still one goal, and one mission,” James said. “And that’s to save souls and get them back to Christ. Every church is important. As long as they’re doing the work of God, we can win this city back. At the end of the day, it’s about Jesus Christ.”

James has also found time to write, with several books in the works. He plans to reveal the first of those books, “Finding Your Focus,” soon. He said it uses “God-inspired” journaling prompts to help people focus on what matters to them.

The light of his life is found in his two daughters, Ava and Marley, he said.

“Those are my babies. I love them,” James said.

But ministry also remains a top priority for James.

“I don’t focus on what other people are doing,” James said. “I’m uniquely me, and I’ve learned to stay in my lane. Every day is a challenge, but I’m up for the challenge. And I believe that, when you’re up for the challenge, God can use you and you’ll benefit every single time from that challenge.”

James encourages people to believe they can overcome any circumstance or situation.

“Whatever God brings you to, he will bring you through. God has put everything on the inside of you that you need to succeed. I want people to know that God is real. I’m a walking testimony of that.”