Rick Lee James is a worship leader, singer and songwriter, speaker, author, and podcast host with over two decades of experience in ministry. In 2021 he enrolled as a graduate student at Loyola University and in 2022 began his clinical pastoral education working for Kettering Health, as an intern hospital chaplain, and as of August 2022, accepted a residency.
Over the years Rick has used music to share the gospel in numerous venues from the National Worship Leader Conference to the world famous Ryman Auditorium.
As host of the podcast “Voices In My Head” Rick has worked with Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves, Paul Baloche, All Sons and Daughters, Michael Card, Brian Zahnd, Tripp York, Brothers McClurg, Brett McCracken, Ian Morgan Cron, Steven Tobolowsky, Walter Brueggemann and many more.
Rick also created and curates the popular Twitter account
@MisterRogersSay where he daily posts quotes from Fred Rogers. As an outgrowth of the popularity of the Twitter account, Rick also created and hosts the podcast
Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast where he has welcomed guests such as Tom Junod, François (Officer) Clemmons, David Newell (Mr. McFeely), Joe (Handyman) Negri, Jon Secada, Jaci Velasquez, Tom Bergeron, Lee Greenwood, and more.
In 2013, Rick released his first live album of original songs called
Basement Psalms Live. The following year, Rick authored and released the book
Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms. The book has since been used as a textbook by National Praise and Worship Institute’s Psalms survey course at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Rick has written for Worship Leader Magazine, Holiness Today, The Table, WorshipLife.com and was a contributing writer for the book
Renovating Holiness, an exploration of holiness through the eyes of Xers and Millennial leaders in the church of the Nazarene.Rick’s album
Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations, published through Lifeway Worship, has garnered critical praise and features in CCMMagazine.com, CCLI.com, Worship Leader Magazine and more, receiving national radio play from syndicated shows including “Under The Radar” and “Things Not Seen.” In December of 2021 the album went to number one on
PLAY MPE Christian Top 20 Radio Download and Stream Charts.
In late 2018, Rick’s song
Advent Hymn became a radio hit
charting at #1 on Christian Radio Weekly’s add charts for seven straight weeks in a row. The song has been played on over 692 radio outlets in the USA, CANADA and the UK.
Advent Hymn was also a finalist in the 2018 Great American Song Contest, among 1,900 other entries.
NEW CD - Rick’s latest project
Thunder features 13 tracks including the never before published song
Thunder written by the legendary
Rich Mullins. THUNDER released on February 8th, 2019 on Vinyl, CD, and streaming.The album has received much critical praise and has received a lot of attention on major Christians outlets including New Release Today, Relevant, CCM Magazine, Hallels.com, and more.
MISSION STATEMENT: Hear it. Sing it. Live it.…to lead congregations in hearing God’s word, in confessing God’s holiness, in praying faithful prayers, in singing truthful songs, and accepting God’s generous invitation.
