James T. Bryant, Jr. is our Associate Pastor of Worship and Senior Adult Ministries. He began his ministry here at First Baptist Church of Pryor in 2009, returning to full-time Christian service from Calvary Baptist Church in Inola, Oklahoma, where he served as bi-vocational Minister of Music and Media from 2000-2009. His full-time occupation was as Middle School and High School Music educator and Choir Director for Inola Public Schools from 1997-2009.

Jim grew up the son of a Minister of Music and moved many times as a child. His dad served churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Missouri. As an eighth grader, his dad was called to Del View Baptist Church in Del City, Oklahoma. This is where Jim was able to establish roots. He graduated from Del City High School in 1984. He also became part-time Minister of Music at Del View Baptist Church in 1984. He served at this church until his graduation from college in 1988.

Jim graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1988. He continued his education by taking classes through the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Extension program in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He graduated with a Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1992.

Jim has served as full-time Minister of Music and Youth for First Baptist Church, Crescent, Oklahoma, and full-time Minister of Music for Crestwood Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was called to First Baptist Church, Inola, Oklahoma, as Minister of Music and Education in 1993 and ordained to the gospel ministry there in 1993 as well, serving at this church from 1993-1997. In 1997, God opened the door with the Inola Schools for a music program, and he accepted the position. But he continued ministering in churches in a bi-vocational capacity even while working full-time for the Inola Schools, serving part-time for Clearview Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, as Music Minister from 1997-1999; then as Minister of Music at Calvary Baptist Church, Inola, Oklahoma, from 2000-2009, where he served until accepting the call to First Baptist Church, Pryor.

Jim married Julie Myers July 30, 1988, at Spring Creek Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She, too, is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and is a school teacher. They have three children: Eleshea, their adopted daughter, born in 1986, is married and lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma; and two sons, Truett, born in 1993 and Jordan, born in 1996.

Jim and Julie enjoy hosting foreign exchange students. In 2007-2008, they hosted Julia Kramer from Germany and Jeong Ah Kim from South Korea. In 2008-2009, they hosted Deniz Schelfi from Germany and Rianne Bel from Holland. The Bryant’s call themselves foreign missionaries who live at home!

Jim’s greatest passion in ministry is to actively lead others to worship the Lord Jesus. He also feels called to build relationships with those he meets in order to show a genuine love for the Lord and wait patiently for the opportunity to lead others to Christ.

Jim and his family enjoy snow-skiing, RV trips to National Parks, and joining together for family worship times with a variety of instruments and singing.