James Kephart
Yakima
Summary
Expository preacher and pastoral leader with 20+ years of ministry experience in preaching, shepherding, church operations, youth ministry, and church planting. Passionate about equipping the next generation, fostering healthy church culture, and partnering with local churches for kingdom‑minded mission. Experienced in organizational leadership, staff oversight, budgeting, and strategic ministry development
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Pastor
Highland Community Church
01.2022 - Current
- August 1st, of 2022, I stepped into the lead pastor role at Highland Community Church. I love preaching and teaching every week and leading the church, alongside our elders, to accomplish the Great Commission. I am an expository preacher. During the first two years we saw significant growth, and a unified, kingdom-minded vision emerge within the church. When I stepped into the pastorate, we were running 120 and grew to two Sunday morning services, averaging 190 every week. We have seen a number of people saved, baptized, and growing in their walk with the Lord. We are a very generationally diverse church, with a strong emphasis on equipping the younger generation to follow Jesus. As a local pastor, I am also passionate about partnering with other like-minded churches in whatever way possible. This has been reflected in partnering with 6 other churches for youth camp, men’s retreat, and most recently these churches also got behind us in supporting a new church plant. In November of 2024, we began a partnership with a Spanish Church. (Iglesia Biblica Sinai) They started to use our building for their weekly meeting as well as sharing in other ministries. With the growth we experienced, rather than building a larger building, we started to plan the start of a new church 4 miles away from us in a small town called Naches. On January 5th 2025, we sent 10 families from Highland as well as 6 other families from partner churches to begin meeting. Naches Valley Christian Fellowship was born and did a soft launch on January 5th. March 2nd we officially opened up in Naches, meeting at 4:00 on Sunday afternoons in the Naches Middle School. They had their first baptism service in July of 2025. Sending 10 families to start another church was felt at Highland and we returned to one service throughout the summer. But God continued to bless and we have seen 14 baptisms and new families join the church this year. In September we returned to two Sunday services and we are averaging 170 on Sundays.
Operations Director
West Side Church
06.2017 - 07.2022
- Oversaw church operations, finances, and property management following the retirement of the Administration Pastor.
- Managed an annual $2 million budget, led stewardship and property teams, and supervised multiple staff.
- Directed major remodel and facility improvement projects.
- Co‑wrote weekly Life Group studies, launched two new groups, and led groups personally.
- Preached 1–2 times per year and provided pulpit supply for other churches.
- Contributed to counseling, first impressions, men’s ministry, and youth/children’s ministry support.
Youth pastor/Bus director
Yakima Bible Baptist Church
01.2007 - 01.2014
- In December of 2007, we moved from Texas to Yakima Washington to work with the teens of Yakima Bible Baptist Church. I oversaw 6th grade - 12th grade students while teaching weekly, counseling, and discipling young people. Other responsibilities included taking teens to Bible camp every summer, to monthly youth rallies, and to visit a Bible college during spring break. Additional ministry responsibilities were Wednesday night teen outreach, Saturday morning door to door evangelism, and growing/leading a Sunday morning bus ministry. I was also given the opportunity to fill the pulpit, preaching when the pastor was gone.
Children’s Pastor, Assistant Youth
Bible Baptist Church
01.2005 - 01.2007
- In the summer of 2005, I began an internship at Bible Baptist church in Ennis, Texas, and was given the opportunity to start a children’s ministry. I continued to serve in that capacity after the end of summer and elected to drive back to Ennis from Oklahoma City (college) on weekends until graduation from college in May of 2006. I then moved down there permanently continuing in the ministry.
Southwest Baptist Church
01.2002 - 01.2005
- I was a member of Southwest Baptist Church during my time in bible college. I was involved in several ministries there that included Neighborhood Bible Time, Friends from Heartland, Sunday School helper, weekly door knocking and visitation.
Summer internship
Berean Baptist Church
06.2003 - 08.2003
- I interned at Berean Baptist Church in Walla Walla, WA, during the summer of 2003. During this time, I worked with teens and assisted the pastor at the church wherever I was needed.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Pastoral Theology
Heartland Baptist Bible College
Oklahoma City, OK05-2006
Bachelor of Arts - Biblical Studies
Veritas Baptist College
01-2021
Skills
- Expository Preaching & Teaching
- Relational shepharding
- leadership development
- Staff Oversight & Team Development
- Budgeting & Operations Management
- Counseling & Pastoral Care
- Multigenerational Ministry
- Youth & Children’s Ministry
- Community Partnerships & Outreach
- Construction, Facilities, & Mechanical Aptitude
Secular Vocational Experience
General Manager / Owner — HEC Landscape Construction
2011–2017
- Owned and operated a construction and landscape company serving residential, commercial, and government clients.
- Managed project planning, budgeting, customer relations, and on‑site operations.
- Supervised crews and ensured quality control and compliance.
2008–2011
- Maintained and repaired facility equipment, vehicles, and production machinery.
- Served as Lead Burial Technician, preparing and placing burial vaults for cemetery services.
- Coordinated graveside setup and assisted families and funeral staff with professionalism.
2005–2007
- Framed custom homes and assisted with residential construction projects.
2006–2007
- Operated a lawn‑care business, managing scheduling, customer service, and equipment maintenance.
2000–2004
- Worked on commercial and residential construction projects during high school and college breaks.
- Experience included foundations, framing, roofing, steel construction, sheetrock, and finish carpentry.
Timeline
Lead Pastor
Highland Community Church
01.2022 - Current
Operations Director
West Side Church
06.2017 - 07.2022
Youth pastor/Bus director
Yakima Bible Baptist Church
01.2007 - 01.2014
Children’s Pastor, Assistant Youth
Bible Baptist Church
01.2005 - 01.2007
Summer internship
Berean Baptist Church
06.2003 - 08.2003
Southwest Baptist Church
01.2002 - 01.2005
Bachelor of Science - Pastoral Theology
Heartland Baptist Bible College
Bachelor of Arts - Biblical Studies
Veritas Baptist College