About Us

James O’Brien is the founder pastor of Greater Light Baptist Church.  His preaching is with passion for souls to come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and to go beyond that point…to build their lives by The Book. 

Originally from Jefferson City, MO; James came to know Christ as his Savior at the youthful age of 21. God began speaking to his heart about serving Him in a capacity that he knew only God could make happen.  Soon after this “heart tug,” he found himself at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO where he acquired his degree in Pastoral Theology.

While at Baptist Bible College, James met his wife, Missy, and they ministered in Monett, MO and in Melbourne, Florida soon after graduation.  Once again, James felt that “heart tug” but this time for a “larger harder” job in the field of church planting.  They heeded the call and in 2002 the sweet family church of Greater Light Baptist Church in Lillington, NC was established.  James has continued to have a bi-vocational career (professional wallpaper and preacher) while serving God with his heart, soul, and mind.

God blessed James and Missy with a sweet family of three children, Astri and Eli, and one in heaven.  Astri is married to Randall Byrd and they live in Lillington.  Eli is a college student at UNC-Wilmington studying finances.

James and Missy’s heartfelt wish is to see souls come to repentance (II Peter 3:9) and to see souls go beyond the point of repentance by building their lives by The Book.