Jim was raised in the suburbs of Detroit. By God’s grace, his parents modeled a genuine faith in Jesus Christ and were active in their church in Wyandotte, MI, serving as youth leaders for many years. From an early age, Jim trusted in Christ. He was educated at Northland International University (B.A.), Reformed Theological Seminary, and graduated from Knox Theological Seminary (M.Div.) in 2006. After seminary, Jim was on staff at Coconut Creek Baptist Church in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area for a year and a half. He had the opportunity to work with 3 pastors who helped shape his early ministry. For the next seven years Jim was a pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Ada, MI. Jim graduated from Southern Seminary with his Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling in 2021. His dissertation was entitled The Essential Morality of Identity: The Role of the Conscience and the Cross in Identity Formation and Human Flourishing. Jim is married to Susannah and has 6 children, Selina, Ryle, Shea, Kean, Eliana, and Dane.
Looking for Jim when he’s not on duty? You’ll probably find him playing noon-ball basketball at the Y downtown, working in his garden, or spending time with his family in various sports and outdoor activities.
Pastor Bart Bryant
Bart grew up in the farm country of northwest Iowa and trusted in Christ in his youth. He was educated at Denver Baptist College (B.A.), Westminster Theological Seminary, Rutgers University (M.L.S.) and the University of Michigan (M.B.A.). After spending 4 years as a medical librarian at Wayne State University in Detroit, Bart founded a library services firm in 1982, which he sold in 2000. He founded a title search firm which he with his 2 sons sold in 2021. Bart has been married for 47 short years to Lorraine, and they are immensely thankful for their 5 children and 25 grandchildren.
Bart is at home with his head in a book or his hands in the soil or sitting at a table eating and laughing with friends. He finds joy in competing and creating in business, learning, losing himself in the beauty of music or nature, or spending time with Lorraine, his closest friend and wife.
Eric was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. He did not grow up attending church, but that changed when he met a girl named Lauren in high school (she’s now his wife!). Lauren took him to church, where Eric considered the good news of Jesus Christ for the first time. Soon after, he came to faith.
Eric and Lauren then went to the University of Georgia together, where he majored in Communication Studies and Religion, ran track, and was involved in a few different ministries, including Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). He did an internship with RUF coming out of college, in which he ministered to students at Davidson College in Davidson, NC for 3 years. It was there that the Lord clarified for Eric his call to pastoral ministry. He then went to Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, where he graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in May, 2023. Eric and Lauren have been married for 5 years.
When Eric is not doing ministry, you can find him hanging out with Lauren, running, reading, or watching Georgia football!
Suzanna was born and raised in New Jersey, along with her two brothers. She heard the gospel through her parents and trusted in Christ from an early age. Having received a rich musical education, she went on to study Music Pedagogy at Wheaton College, IL (B.M.), graduating in 2014. After teaching private voice lessons and singing in a professional choir for two years, she was accepted into the graduate choral conducting program at University of Michigan, completing her degree in 2018 (M.M.). She is now married to Keegan, and serves as the Worship Director for Redeemer Ann Arbor.
When she’s not engaged in church activities, she takes great joy in being outdoors, reading with a cup of tea, listening to new music, or living life with her sweet husband.