James Payne is a highly experienced leader with a rich background in ministry and diverse professional ventures. With a passion for serving others, James has dedicated the past 20 years to ministry; almost a decade of which has been concurrent with leading markets and teams for an international specialty retailer. James is a 2013 graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary where he was the only African-American awarded the Kern Family Foundation Scholar; Master of Divinity. Also, he a proud 2009 HBCU graduate of American Baptist College of Nashville, TN; Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies.

James’ Vineyard roots are growing. From 2021 – 2022, he served as the Pastor of Mission & Justice for a Vineyard plant in New York City, invited to participate as a church planting fellow and incubator with Redeemer City to City, and served the as administrative assistant for VUSA’s Black Pastors and Leaders Association. Today, James is a project manager with VUSA’s Evangelism and Justice and a research assistant with a local Vineyard Church.

James lives in Harlem, NYC with his bride (Kristina) and has three sons. In NYC, he and his wife are the founders of a small business pursuing a redemptive entrepreneurship venture where they seek to curate spaces for new and young families and enable them to thrive in NYC.