James Edward Wallace Sr.

Born in Cleveland Ohio in 1965, James is the ninth of eleven children born to Willie and Anne Wallace - a truck driver and an evangelist. Pastor Anne Wallace brought James and his ten siblings to church every week and placed a very integral part in the development of his faith as a child and love for the word of God. James gave his life to Jesus Christ around the age of ten and rededicated his life at the age of nineteen while he was in the military. The Lord drew him closer to Him through His word and fellowship with a small group of believers on the base while he was stationed in Germany. Most of James siblings are musically inclined, either singing or playing an instrument, or doing both. James started singing in the school choir and playing in the orchestra in the 4th grade and continued until the beginning of his junior year in high school. James had a knack for rhyming and writing poems. He wrote his first song when he was about eight years old but didn’t write another until his early thirties. One day while at church, his sister Deborah Baker began playing music during the receiving of the offering, immediately James began to sing, ‘Get Your Offering In Your Hand’ and it was there that by the grace of God, his first major song was written and a songwriter reborn. This song has been song in various churches all across the country, but few people are aware that James Wallace Sr. is in fact the writer. James was unaware that God had a greater plan for His life in the gospel music arena. God who had ignited the gift of songwriting in him, was about to do the miraculous things through him while he slept. One night while James was in a deep sleep, James began to hear the music, melody and a few words of a song. Realizing that the song he was hearing in his dreams, was unknown to him, he immediately awoke and began adding words to what he had already heard. Night after night, dream after dream, year after year, the Lord shared with his servant songs that he wanted James to write and share with His people. James believes that his songs are prophetic because the Lord gives them to him. They include warnings, encouragement, comfort, and inspiration. His desire is to touch the hearts of people everywhere with God songs and the message of gospel of Jesus Christ
James has been serving as a pastor since 1997. He now pastors the City On a Hill
Ministries, The New Covenant, Cleveland OH. He enjoys spending quality time with his lovely wife, First Lady Lorna Wallace, three adult children, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren. He loves playing and watching basketball but recently discovered that at his age, bowling is much safer. His favorite teams are of course, the Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers, and Guardians.