Support Us!
Your support allows our ministry to flourish locally. Thank you!
Local Reach
James's ministry is based in Stillwater, Minnesota, a suburban area northeast of the Twin Cities. Stillwater, a historic river town and one of the oldest cities in the U.S., is often referred to as the "Birthplace of Minnesota." This rich history fosters a strong sense of pride among its citizens, evident in the town's community activities and historic downtown district.
The people of Stillwater and its surrounding areas—Oak Park Heights, Lake Elmo, Houlton, and Hudson—often search for meaning beyond their everyday activities and suburban pursuits. In this context, many residents project an image of a perfect life (a good job, a nice house, a stable marriage, and successful children) but often struggle with a less-than-ideal reality beneath the surface.
In the city where Bethany Church is located, there is a noticeable hunger for authenticity. People long for a community where they don't have to pretend or impress but can openly share their life's questions, struggles, and hurts without shame. The name of the church—Bethany—means "House of Agony," and James believes that through this church, God wants to meet people at their points of pain and provide them with a greater purpose that only the Good News of Jesus can offer.
James Brown became a missionary candidate with InFaith in 2024. Originally from southwest Ohio, James moved to Minnesota in September 2004 to work at Crossroads Church. As one of the primary communicators, he preached 20-25 times per year and guided numerous leaders in worship, youth, and adult ministry programs for the 3,000 attendees of this multi-site congregation. As the Transitional Lead Pastor of Real Life Church, he successfully designed and executed a fundraising initiative that saved the church from near closure in April 2023 and led to it becoming debt-free in 2024. On July 14, 2024, Bethany Church in Stillwater, MN, voted to add James to their staff as a pastor.
When James is not creating processes, solving problems, connecting dots, or telling stories in a church setting, he can be found learning new Gen Z jargon from his teen daughter, Gianna, discussing politics with his wife, Jena, throwing a frisbee for his dogs (Bocephus, Henri, and Junith), helping friends and family with their Apple products, or playing “Farmer Brown” on his horse hobby farm.