Today we’d like to introduce you to James Jordan.
Hi James, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a Deputy Sheriff with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years. I have been an ordained Freewill Baptist Minister since 2004. I became pastor of Greater Vision Freewill Baptist Church located in Haines City back in January 2018. I believe God prepared me to pastor a church through the ministry of being a law enforcement officer. I was a hostage negotiator for 13 years with the Sheriff’s Office. This taught me how to listen and speak to people. I have been married to my beautiful wife, Michelle, for the past 30 years since July of this year. We have two wonderful children. My son, Trey, who is 28 years old and married to our daughter in law, Bella for the past year and a half. Our daughter, Emerald, is 22 years old and works at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Property and Evidence. I never knew that God was using law enforcement to prepare me for the ministry. I can look back to where God has brought me from to where I am today. I definitely had God’s hand all over my life. I like to use real life experiences to bring the message of God to people that He places within my path. I just received my bachelor’s degree from Warner University in Christian Ministry. I start that journey when COVID hit. I love to cook and play golf, which are my stress relievers. I truly love people and enjoy serving them as Jesus did.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I have never walked it alone. Jesus has been with me the entire way and of course my wife is always by my side. There has been a lot of growth from the trials in my life. For the past 5 years, I have been working 2 full times jobs while going to college full time as well. There have been many challenges, but with Jesus, I have past each one. In life we sometimes wonder why we have to go through the things we go through. They are ultimately done in our lives to bring us closer to Jesus. We are to learn from our mistakes and continue moving forward in our live. We have ups and downs, but we must stay focused on the prize, which is Heaven. I never force my belief on anyone and love to hear their about what they believe, even if we disagree. My purpose is to be Jesus to people and allow them to ask me questions of why I believe what I believe.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I just reached my 30 years with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on October 9, 2025. I was hired in 1995 when I was 19 years old. I started as a law enforcement officer and then transferred to communication and then to property and evidence. In August 2005, I was asked if I wanted to go back to the road as a law enforcement officer. I had to go through the police academy the second time, as my FDLE standards had expired. Since going back to the road, I had accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior on March 16, 2000. Since working as a Deputy since March 2006, I have had the privilege of being a hostage negotiator for 13 years, a member of our Critical Incident Stress Management Team since 2008. I love helping people. I enjoy speaking to people, but much more I enjoy listening to people. I was a detective for over one year, which taught me a lot when speaking to people or interviewing them. I believe all the training that I have obtained and still do today, assists me in pastoring the church that God currently has me pastoring. I do not believe that I am different from anyone else. We were all created by God and for God. I have made decisions in my life that have eternal benefits. I am not better than anyone else. I am sinner that was in need of a Savior, and I made the best decision in my life, besides marrying my wife, was accepting Jesus Christ into my heart. I currently work as a School Resource Deputy for Polk State College since 2018. I love interacting with student, faculty, and others that come on the campus. I am also the Chaplain for the Polk County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 46.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I am praying that our church continues to grow and that God uses us to help the community around us. We are starting to visit an assisted living center within Haines City.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greatervisionfwbc.com
- Facebook: Greater Visions Freewill Baptist
- Youtube: Greater Vision Freewill Baptist Church
