James Edward Cato
Area Director
First Priority Greater Birmingham
James has been involved with First Priority for the past 10 years in the Highway 78 area from Sumiton to Forestdale. James has served as youth pastor at several local churches along Highway 78 where he organized rallies for local churches to fuel campus ministry. James immersed himself in local campus ministry and volunteered as a campus coach at Bottonfield Middle School and Minor High School and is now serving as area director in the Highway 78 Network.
James has been on staff at First Priority for the past year and has also become the area director for Hueytown and Pleasant Grove. James currently serves on staff as youth pastor and young adult Sunday school teacher at Living Word Ministries in Gardendale. James is also a youth and young adult speaker on Sunday night for church congregations in his area. James received ordination through the Church of God in 2006 with 26 college credits in biblical studies and pastoral counseling from Lee University.
James was raised in the Mount Olive area and graduated from Corner High School in 1992. After graduation, James served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a weapons instructor and machine gunner. James has been married for 16 years to Christy from the West Jefferson area. Christy is the Director of Operations at Revenue Discovery Systems (RDS) of Birmingham, where she has worked for more than 12 years. James and Christy have two sons: Drake, 14, who attends Dora High School and Dawson, 8, who attends Sumiton Elementary School. James and his family live in Twilly Town outside of Dora, Ala., where they enjoy giving back and serving in their community.
You may contact James at 205.871.8886 or james@gofirstpriority.com.
Be on the lookout for our next staff member spotlight: Benny Bowman.