Our Pastor

Pastor James Walsh

Pastor James serves as the pastor of Pleasant Hill Wesleyan Church in Elkton, Maryland. He completed his requirements for his ministerial licensing through the FLAME program in the Wesleyan Ministry, and is currently working towards ordination through the Wesleyan Correspondence Courses.

Since his appointment at Pleasant Hill, the church has developed a passion to reach their community. One of the church’s on-going contributions is collecting nonperishable food items for Leeds Elementary School, Elkton, Maryland. These food items provide underprivileged children meals during days when there is no school.

Along with Pastoring, he works full-time as the Recreations Director at Cokesbury Village Retirement Community located in Hockessin, Delaware. In his position with the retirement community, Pastor James works with the elderly, develops programs, coordinates volunteers, meets with families, and plans activities for residents.

Pastor James and his wife, Mary, were married in 2001. They have three children: James, and twins, Caitlin and Joshua. Pastor James is also a passionate student of Martial Arts, and had earned his black belt in multiple styles/systems. He is the Chaplain Advisor for Boys Scouts Troop 29 in Wilmington, Delaware, where both of his boys participate in the scouting program. During his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, biking, kayaking and swimming; especially when he can do these things with his family.

Pastor James believes that the ministry is not limited to the confines of the church building. Instead, "God can use us every day wherever we are to minister to others. It is through our interaction with others that the love of Jesus Christ is shared." He often reminds his congregation, “The great commission needs to be the focus point in all aspects of our lives, not just on Sunday Morning.”