James has been the pastor of Vilonia Church of the Nazarene since September, 1992. Before coming to Vilonia, he pastored in Alexander, Paragould, Osceola, and Fort Smith, Arkansas. James was raised in Beebe, Arkansas and graduated from Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University) in 1984. He is married to Bonita (Boydston) Smith. James and Bonita have three adult children: David, Selena and Carol.