Today we’d like to introduce you to James Thompson
Hi James, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I don’t have the most conventional background. I didn’t grow up in the church—in fact, I was far from it. Born and raised in Omaha, NE, opportunities for young men of color were limited. Many of the people I knew were involved in drugs and gangs, and I didn’t see many options for myself. When I relocated to Atlanta, I found myself falling back into the same destructive patterns I tried to escape. During that difficult time, I realized something had to change. At 35, I walked into a church on a Saturday afternoon, not even sure if it would be open, but somehow I knew that what I needed was there. As it turned out, they were holding a new members class, and that day, I gave my life to God. Since then, my life has never been the same.
Eventually, I felt a deep desire to draw closer to God and to learn more about His Word. I joined what I thought was a Bible study group, but it turned out to be much more. The group included the church’s pastor, several teachers, and leaders, and they were actually part of the message creation team. Before I knew it, I was called to serve in the youth ministry as a teacher. Not long after, I was asked to teach the entire congregation. Everything happened so quickly, but I realized that when God places a calling on your life, He moves at a supernatural pace, making room for things you never could have imagined.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d be lying if I said it was easy, or if I claimed that I never have days when I question God or doubt my calling. One of the hardest parts of being a Christian is simply being a Christian. Along the way, I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome, feeling unworthy of my calling and wondering if God made a mistake choosing me to lead a ministry, knowing I’m far from perfect. And then there are those obstacles that I can’t control—times when I have to fully trust God because His plans are not my own. I’ve often struggled with this, thinking I had a great idea, only to find that He had an even better one.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In addition to my role as Lead Pastor of Upwrd City Church, I also serve as the Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Launch Wave Media, an independent recording and management company. This allows me to combine my passion for creativity with my business leadership skills.
What brings me joy is being able to combine my gift with my calling and help others discover their own gifts, guiding them to use those gifts to glorify God.
I deeply value authenticity—showing up every day as my true self. The person you see on Monday is the same person you’ll see on Sunday.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
During that period, I discovered untapped skills and decided to start a business rather than wait for jobs to reopen. I also learned the value of being present in the lives of the people I love and gained a clearer understanding of what truly matters.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtthemotiv8r/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jtthemotiv8r
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYRPoTkGDokMqkNSH9lxhcQ
