Meet Our Founder!

     On September 17, 1959, I was born to Leroy and Dorothy Brown in Ferriday, Louisiana. In June of 1976 at the early age of 16 year old, I moved to Houma, Louisiana and completed my senior year of public school and graduated from South Terrebonne High School near Houma. It was there that I met my future wife Grace Marie Manuel whom I married two years later. We became the blessed parents of three wonderful children: Janita Marie Hodge, James Leo Jr, and Caleb Leo Brown.

     Midmorning on January 8, 1985, at the tender age of 25 years old while driving home alone the Lord through HIS Holy Spirit began to speak and deal mightily with my heart in regards to my self-centeredness, unrighteous manner of life, and the inability to properly guide my household (wife and children) righteously and in His ways. Within one hour of my first real and direct encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, I was a totally converted young man racing home to retrieve my wife's bible (that I had previously hidden from her to avoid the conviction that I felt when I saw her reading it). I began to feed my new found addiction of reading and studying His life empowering Word. It revealed the responsibility to take his yoke upon me and learn of him as stated in Matthews 11:28 ...through his Holy Writ. In August of the same year, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and was resurrected to the wonderful things from above (a heavenly hope, purpose of life, plan of salvation and His divine order).

     Over many years of earnestly seeking, the LORD began to graciously grant to me some of His marvelous keys to Joseph's corn crib, where the eternal bread of life is stored. Our Lord Jesus Christ made me to understand that as freely as I received ....freely I am to give (an understanding of His word) that neither myself nor other hunger souls who’s seeking His truth should perish in the famine for the Word as stated in Hosea 4:6, "my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." Jesus Christ has given us a charge to share the knowledge of His saving grace. Proverbs 11:26 informs us that, "He that withholdeth corn, (bread of life) the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it." An understanding of the Word of God is to be purchased without money and without price as stated in Isaiah 55:1-2, ".... Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." People, who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, are to spend or sacrifice their valuable time obtaining spiritual corn or manna (the Word of God). The Holy Spirit speaking through Solomon admonishes us in Proverbs 23:23 to "buy (with your time) the truth (manna) and sell it not (refusing to sell out by ignoring or denying the truth once we've received and learned it)."

     In 2002, after 17 years of discipleship, intense and dedicated studying of the Word of God and having been tutored by different teachers and pastors, the LORD God thundered a tremendous revelation to me. He would not accept my substitution (by hiding myself under various pastors and tutors) of His divine will and purpose for my life to shepherd (watch/care for) and teach the flock which He would make me the overseer. Neither would He honor my willingness to be content by hiding myself in an independent church or group of churches, freelance organizations, nor religious affiliations and associations. He instructed me as is said in Isaiah 8:13, "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." He re-iterated the responsibility to love Him more than these (other things in my life) and to “Feed my sheep" as our Lord Jesus Christ told Peter in John 21:17.

     Therefore, in June 2002, I surrendered and submitted to the will of God for my life and became a dedicated watchman to His wonderful people and a continued disciple/student of His. I’m eternally humbled that He’s entrusting some of His priceless souls to the ministry that He has given me. He has spared us of dependency upon, an obligation to, and the deceitful trappings of the arm of the flesh (witty inventions, systems and men’s order). He has instructed us to yoke and labor together with God-called and God-sent men of like precious faith.

     Since yielding to His will and directions, it has been an awesome delight to be a servant to God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord by serving His precious and wonderful people in His proper order. It has been the greatest joy of my life to dedicate my life to fulfill my God-given charge to teach, shepherd, inspire and edify His great people!  Every God-called and God-sent messenger (to His people) no doubt feels as the apostle Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, "for what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? FOR YE ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY!!!”