Reverend Cean R. James

Reverend Cean James is the founding pastor of the Grace Christian Fellowship (GCF) of Southwest Philadelphia. Located in the Elmwood section of Philadelphia, GCF is a community based church and ministry with a mission to evangelize and partner with its surrounding neighborhood. In just 4 years God has blessed GCF with membership of over 200 dedicated servants.

Rev. James completed his undergraduate studies at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in biology and currently is studying theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. At LTSP, Rev. James was the 2007 recipient of the J. Q. Jackson Award, given to the African American student with the highest grade point average.

Rev. James is a much sought after revivalist and teacher. In 2004 he was highlighted in the quarterly publication, The African American Pulpit, as a member of its 20 to Watch List, a collection of young clergy person who represented the bright future of the African American preaching tradition. He is a former board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Southeastern PA, and the former chairman of the Philadelphia Public Schools Faith Based Task Force. Rev. James also teaches Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Bible at the Urban Promise Christian School in Camden, NJ.

Rev. James is married to the former Kesha Barton of Columbia, SC. Kesha, a graduate of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Law, practices law in the public interest. They have three sons, Clarence Milton, Jesse Joseph, and Cean Benjamin.