Visionary. Servant. Builder.
Academic Preparation, coupled with a strong, Christian upbringing, established the life path for the Reverend James C. Givens: Christian, Banker, Civic Leader, Church Pastor, and Church Builder. A native of Lake City, Florida, he is the only child of the late Mr. James C. Givens and Mrs. Lucille D. Givens. He was reared in Mount Pisgah AME Church of Lake City and graduated from Columbia Senior High School of that city. He obtained a B.A. Degree from Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida. To enhance his ministry, he later obtained a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. He is currently enrolled in Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, aspiring for a Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership for Black Congregations.
His undergraduate degree and business acumen led to a variety of positions in the banking industry as well as leadership roles in numerous community service organizations in North, South, and Central Florida.
Following Ordination as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, he served as Senior Pastor of St. Stephen AME Church, Miami Gardens, Florida. There, he initiated membership growth from 10 to over 300 members. His notoriety as a Church Builder also began here as he led the congregation into remodeling the existing sanctuary and erecting a Multi-Purpose Center.
Appointed as the Spiritual Leader for Mount Olive AME Church of Tampa, Florida, in November of 2004, he led that congregation in increased membership and the establishment of outreach ministries. On June 22, 2008, this congregation marched into their new worship center located at 1902 W LaSalle Street, Tampa, Florida.
God continually had his hand on Pastor Givens, who was appointed by Bishop McKinley Young to Pastor, Mount Olive AME Church of Fort Myers, Florida, on December 26, 2010. He has, to this date, brought this congregation to the fringes of building a new worship center in the sum of $4.7 million. The Worship Center is located at 2160 Veronica Shoemaker Blvd. in the Dunbar Community of Fort Myers.
While noted as a Church Builder, he is also known as a keen proponent for education in Christianity as well as academically. He has led the establishment of numerous scholarships and book stipends while serving in various presiding elder districts and conferences. He has served as Christian Education Director for the Visionary Ft. Lauderdale District, the Tremendous Tampa District, and the Celebrated Central District. For many years, he served as the Conference Christian Education Director for both the West Coast and South Conferences. During the 11th Episcopal District’s 2016 Planning Conference, Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr. granted favor upon Rev. Givens by appointing him to serve as the Director of Christian Education for the 11th Episcopal District of the AME Church.
As the 49th Pastor of Mount Olive AME Church, the only AME Church in Fort Myers, Florida, he has again affected membership growth and outreach while being very involved within the community.
Rev. Givens strives to live by the motto… “if I can help somebody, then my living is not in vain.”
His faith in action is demonstrated daily as he shepherds God’s people and in his role as devoted husband to Roberta Thomas Givens, father of FAMU Graduate William, a Construction Engineer, and adopted daughter, Chakkanya Q. Sampson, and grandfather to Kayden Troy.