Evangelist Denise James, M.A., M. Div.
Evangelist Denise Whitaker James is a certified marriage counseling facilitator with Prepare/Enrich, certified Anger Management Specialist-1, Certified in Mental Health First Aid, and registered as a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Children. She is a servant leader and is humbled by the opportunity to serve others.
A native of Newport News, Virginia, Evangelist Denise is a blessed wife of over 30 years, mother of two grown sons, and a proud grandmother. She is passionate about serving others and is motivated by 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) which says to “encourage one another and build each other up.” Evg. Denise has served in various capacities in church to include: Associate Minister, Christian educator, praise dance instructor, workshop facilitator, ministerial coordinator of outreach, missionary ministry leader, and youth leader. She currently serves as Ministry Head of Pastoral Care, on Altar Ministry, as part of the Apostolic Council, and the Evangelism ministry at her church Restoration Christian Church of Virginia. As Ministry Head of Pastoral Care, she coordinates the bereavement care of ministry leaders, and is one of the facilitators for pre-marriage counseling. She oversees the You Are Not Alone (YANA) Grief Support Group and the Heart 2 Heart Healing Ministries. Evangelist Denise was licensed to the Gospel ministry in February 2000 under the Pastorate of Ivan T. Harris of First Baptist Church Denbigh and ordained into the Office of Evangelist in November 2015 by Apostle Charlie Ammons.
Evangelist Denise believes in education and training. She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, a M.A. in Counseling and a Master of Divinity. She has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education at a local hospital. Vocationally, Evangelist Denise is a higher education professional with two decades of service to Hampton University before she stopped out of full-time employment in 2020 to complete her doctoral studies in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Evangelist Denise has a passion for people and is driven by a need to see them maximize their God-given potential to be all that they believe God has created them to be. Being a part of the Healing Waters Counseling, Wellness, Consulting & Training Center since 2016 as an intern, intern supervisor, and currently as a volunteer allows Evangelist Denise to give back to the community. At Healing Waters, Evangelist Denise has engaged in individual, group, and family counseling sessions as well as counseled homeless female veterans. She has a special interest in pre and post marriage counseling; bereavement and grief counseling; and the mental health & well-being, advocacy and academic achievement of college students. She is affectionately known as “Mama James” to many that she has spiritually mothered, discipled, mentored, taught, and encouraged.
To God Be ALL the Glory!