James Cheesman is a diversely talented musician, a passionate Minister of the Gospel, and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Since May 2015, he has served as the Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas. James lives in Farmersville with his wife, Megan, who is also a church musician and a piano teacher. James and Megan have two beautiful little girls named Claire and Eve.

            James' father, a Music Minister in Cuero, Texas, cultivated a love for music in James from an early age. James plays the piano, guitar, French horn, mandolin, accordion, and various other instruments. He also is a vocalist and a choral enthusiast. He enjoys songwriting, composing, and arranging. James recorded his debut studio EP "Your Glory Alone" in Nashville and released it on all major platforms in 2021. Songs from his EP, like “You Sought Me” and “Faithful God,” have been sung in churches throughout Texas and even in other countries. His other compositions and arrangements have been sung by choirs at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Grace Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, FBC Marlin, Texas, FBC Cuero, Texas, FBC Thomaston, Georgia, the Youth Choir of First Baptist Church Nashville, Tennessee, and the Baylor Religious Hour Choir.

            After a successful academic career at Cuero High School, where he was Valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar, James attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Church Music with a Concentration in Piano and a Minor in Religion, Summa Cum Laude, and he was very active in the bands and choirs in the School of Music. At Baylor, James studied piano with Jane Abbott-Kirk, French horn with Jeffrey Powers, conducting with Lynne Gackle, and Church Music with Randall Bradley, Terry York, and David Music. James went on to earn his Master's Degree in Church Music with a Concentration in Music Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. At Southwestern, James studied Music Ministry and Worship with John Simons, Scott Aniol, and David Toledo, and composition with Christopher Teichler.

            James has been leading worship since he was 16. He served as the Minister of Music at FBC Marlin, Texas, where he was ordained in August 2012, an intern at First Baptist Nashville, Tennesseeand the Music and Worship Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. James is also very passionate about missions. He has combined music with missions on all thirteen of the international mission trips he has taken. In May 2013, James led the band Sacrificios Vivos on a trip to three cities in Peru where they led worship, taught new worship songs to the congregations, and engaged in evangelism and discipleship. James also has experience as a conference clinician and adjunct professor of Church Music and Worship.