Ministry Leaders

James is a retired United States Army veteran with 20 years of leadership experience at operational and tactical levels. He served in Kosovo (2001–2002), Iraq (2008–2009), and South Korea (2013–2014). In 2014, Indianhead—the official magazine of the 2nd Infantry Division—featured his work as a sexual harassment/assault victim advocate. In 2016, The Southwesterner, the student magazine of Southwestern College (Kansas), profiled him as an alumnus. A devoted Christian for more than two decades, James received believer's baptism from an Army chaplain in North Macedonia, near the region where the apostle Paul once taught. He was originally baptized as an infant at St. Peter Cathedral, the headquarters of the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania.

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He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from American Military University in 2013 and a Master of Theological Studies from Southwestern College in 2015. James has more than a decade of experience teaching Bible studies and faith formation in military chapels, college ministries, and churches.

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A paleo-orthodox Wesleyan/Pentecostal theologian, James focuses on early church history, Wesleyan theology, and the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation. He also has experience as a professional growth counselor.

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He published his first book, First-Century Faith: Reviving Christian Origins in Belief and Practice (independently published, 2025), a conversational guide to rediscovering the roots of Christian belief and discipleship. Since 2017, he has written articles under the banner of First Century Christian Faith.

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He is a member of the Wesleyan Theological Society, the Society of Evangelical Arminians, and the Society for Post-Supersessionist Theology.

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Nichole leads Erie First Assembly of God in Erie, Pennsylvania. She brings a deep passion for the local church, unity in the body of Christ, and teaching Scripture in ways that lead to real-life application. She loves helping people take their next step in following Jesus Christ.

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Nichole grew up attending Erie First Assembly and studied English Education at Missouri State University. During college, she joined Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and met her husband Joel, a student at Central Bible College. Together, they spent more than a decade serving college students through Chi Alpha in the Erie area. During that time, Nichole earned ministry credentials through Global University and later became an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God.

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In 2016, Nichole returned to Erie First Assembly as Executive Pastor. Just weeks into the role, the senior pastor unexpectedly stepped down. Nichole stepped into interim leadership and guided the church through the transition. In February 2017, the congregation affirmed her as Lead Pastor, making her the first woman to serve in that role at Erie First Assembly.

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She completed her Master of Theology at the University of Valley Forge and currently serves as the Specialized Ministries Director for the Network of Women Ministers with the Assemblies of God. She also co-authored three devotional books with the Executive Pastor of Erie First Assembly, Quintin C. Lindblad: Get Your Hopes Up (independently published, 2018), Hope Changes Everything: 21 Day Devotional (independently published, 2019), and Love Build Send (independently published, 2021). Through her writing and leadership, Nichole equips believers to grow in faith, live with hope, and embrace their mission in the world.

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Aaron's journey to ministry started early, even though he grew up in a broken home without a strong Christian influence. At age 12, he accepted Christ and attended a local Vacation Bible School after an invitation from a neighbor. His faith deepened, and he sensed God calling him into ministry. By his senior year of high school, he realized he was not ready to pastor, so he joined the United States Army as a chaplain assistant and learned from the many pastors he served alongside.

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While stationed in Texas, Aaron led the Awana program at his local church. Through that experience, he discovered his passion for equipping families to grow in the Word together. In 2015, the Army honorably discharged him after he received a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Though this diagnosis changed his path, it strengthened his resolve to pursue God's call. Aaron and his wife felt God saying, "Go and do as I have called you," so they searched for a church to serve. That search led them to Columbia Baptist Church in Kentucky. Aaron began as the Children's Pastor and later became the Family Pastor. He focused on building a Christ-centered, family-driven ministry. During this time, he also earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (with minors in Business and Christian Counseling) from Liberty University and a Master of Theology from Campbellsville University.

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Aaron wrote Chapter 8, "Don't Worry, I Saw This on MacGyver: Engaging Kids with Object Lessons and Props," in Irresistible: How to Engage Kids and Point Them to Jesus (Four Rivers Media, 2018), and Chapter 14, "Put a Little Seasoning on It: You Are Stronger When You Learn from Those Who Came before You," in Stronger: Increase Your Personal Depth and Wisdom (Four Rivers Media, 2019).