Pastor James Strong
Pastor James Strong was born in Madison County (Huntsville), Alabama to Earl Strong, Sr. and Ruby Battle Strong. Pastor Strong has attended church most of his life. As a child he attended the Meridianville Bottom Primitive Baptist church. As a young adult the Spirit began to deal with him concerning salvation and he joined the Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where he was baptized. Later as the Spirit continued to tug at his heart because of a change that he saw in his sister (Sister Willie Mae Ford), he felt that there was more that he needed. He began visiting the Governor’s Drive Church of God in Christ where at that time there were several young people who had dedicated their lives unto the Lord. Some of those young people included the Harrises, Downings, the Williams, the Peppers and later the Starks. As a result of the sincerity he saw in these young people along with the teaching that he received through the pastor and mothers, he became a member of Governors Drive COGIC where Bishop W. S. Harris was pastor. Shortly after joining he attended a revival conducted by Evangelist Juanita Sapp from Brooklyn, NY. During that revival, he was baptized in the Holy Ghost. Four months later Pastor Strong was united in Holy Matrimony to Miss Mary Lawler who he met at Alabama A&M University. We now know her as Mother Mary Strong. He has two lovely children, Faith LaJoy Bailey and Jamel Strong. He also has a very lovely granddaughter, Little Miss Jordan Tamah Bailey.
Pastor Strong later became a charter member of the True Light Church of God in Christ where he served under Pastor Terrell Harris, Jr. for several years. In 1979 Pastor Strong accepted his call into the ministry. In August of 1980 he preached his first sermon. The title of his first sermon was “Let Your Light So Shine” from Matthew 5:16. He was very active in ministry. He had a tract ministry, served as church evangelist, he was very involved in the jail ministry and served as head of the bus ministry. Pastor Strong served as Assistant Pastor of True Light COGIC until the demise of Superintendent Sam Crutcher who was the Pastor of Lacey’s Spring First Church of God in Christ. In March of 1985 he was appointed Pastor of the Lacey’s Spring Church. He along with the members later renamed the church after Superintendent Crutcher and it is now known as Crutcher Temple COGIC. Also, in March 1985, Pastor Strong and his brother (Roosevelt Strong) officially started their own business where he has served as manager for the past twenty years. After serving as Pastor of Crutcher Temple COGIC for fourteen and one-half years, Pastor Strong felt the Spirit tugging at his heart to do more. Three years prior to his launching out, the Lord had instructed him to start a ministry in Southwest Huntsville. He began with a radio broadcast and in January 1999 he acquired a building. In April 1999 he started an early morning service in Huntsville with approximately ten members, and would then travel along with others to Crutcher Temple for an 11:00 a.m. service. Elder Charles Brown was appointed pastor of Crutcher Temple, thereby releasing Pastor Strong to be full-time pastor of Fountain of Life Ministries in June 1999. The Lord has really blessed the church to grow and prosper over the past six years. He blessed the church on this year to purchase approximately five acres of land on Triana Boulevard, which will be the future home of Fountain of Life Ministries.
Other positions in which Pastor Strong has served is Vice-President of State Evangelism Department, State Treasurer for the Department of Evangelism, District President of Evangelism, and he is currently serving as District Chairman of the Huntsville District Churches of God in Christ