James Oliver
Campus multiplier
I grew up in the suburbs of Birmingham, AL, where there was a church on every corner, as they say. I went to one of those churches and placed my faith in Jesus at the age of five under the faithful guidance of my parents. From that point on I began following Jesus though while at home I still struggled with things like obeying my parents, being kind to my sister, and making good friends.
In high school, we started going to a new church, and I got a brief taste of good friends and the family of God in a great youth group that I was a part of. This was the start of more significant growth in my faith. My faith was tested and strengthened in college while studying Political Science and Digital Forensics at UAB. I also got to be a part of the Baptist Campus Ministry at UAB, where I would later meet my wife, Ariana.
While at UAB, I got plugged in at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia, AL, where I met Kevin, Antioch’s Lead Pastor, and I experienced a lot of growth through his discipleship of me. In 2019 I joined him and his family along with a team from Shades to help plant this church.
In 2020-2021 I finished my undergraduate degree and began working with the FBI, until I sensed the Lord growing my heart for the work of the church, calling me to take a discipleship focused position at Antioch, and to get a Masters of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School.
Ariana and I got married in August of 2022, and we have one son, Santiago, who was born in February of 2024!
We enjoy spending time with family and our local and international friends, being outdoors, cooking up a delicious meal, and watching a thought provoking or funny movie!
Hope to meet you soon!