James Cheesman has served as Worship Pastor at FBC Farmersville since 2015. Besides overseeing the music and worship ministry, James also helps in other ministry areas, including preaching, pastoral care, teaching Sunday School, D-Groups, missions, and IT oversight. James lives in Farmersville with his wife, Megan, who is also a church musician and a piano teacher. James and Megan have two beautiful girls named Claire and Eve.

James' father, a Music Minister in Cuero, Texas, cultivated a love for music in James from an early age. James plays the piano, guitar, French horn, mandolin, accordion, and various other instruments. James has been leading worship since he was 16. He served as the Minister of Music at FBC Marlin, Texas, an intern at First Baptist Nashville, Tennessee and the Music and Worship Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to Farmersville.

James earned his Bachelor's Degree in Church Music from Baylor University. He went on to earn his Master's Degree in Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as Adjunct Professor of Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and pursuing his PhD in Church Music & Worship. In 2023, James served as the Music Director for the Southern Baptist Convention.

James enjoys songwriting, composing, and arranging. James recorded his debut studio EP “Your Glory Alone” in Nashville and released it on all major platforms in 2021. Songs from his EP, like “You Sought Me” and “Faithful God,” have been sung in churches throughout the United States and even in Canada, Australia, Malaysia, and Europe. We sing several of James’ original worship songs at FBC Farmersville. He is currently working on his next album, “Songs for a Church Like Ours,” which will be released in late 2023 or early 2024. Sheet music, chord charts, lead sheets, and recordings of several of James' original songs and arrangements are available on his website (www.jamescheesman.com).

James is a big fan of the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Cowboys, Baylor Bears football and basketball, and various soccer teams (FC Dallas, Tottenham Hotspur, and USA Soccer). Since he married a Canadian, he even started following hockey. He and Megan also run frequently and get pretty competitive when playing board games.