The Heart Behind It All
James has a heart for people and loves to teach the inmates in prisons and jails that God can give them a new identity (2 Corinthians 5:17). He shares that there is no better feeling than teaching in a way that sparks their interest in reading the Bible for themselves.
James is strong in discipleship, evangelism, teaching, equipping, and empowering others to do the work of the ministry. His mission field has been in the jails, prisons, courthouses, streets, and even churches.
The Calling
James has worked in the construction field all of his life and loved the work he did, but felt God was calling him to greater things. In the Fall of 2016, He answered the calling and was trained and commissioned as a missionary/evangelist with reviveOHIO. Shortly after, James found Courtside Ministries to be a great place to give hope and share Jesus.
In 2021, the Lord opened the door for James to use his construction experience to serve God and others in various construction ministries and projects while praying with and sharing the Gospel with those in need.
New Direction
James has been serving all over the state of Ohio for the last 8+ years. In the fall of 2024, James sensed he needed to provide more opportunities for his wife, Marla, to serve alongside him. They will both be taking the Gospel and uniting the churches on the island of Man O War in January 2026. They continue to preach in the nursing homes on the 4th & 5th Sundays together. James will continue serving with Courtside Ministries locally and was recently promoted to regional director to maintain current table locations and establish new ones. James also loves to serve with the Gideons, preaching and teaching weekly in the county jails!
Marla has been working in the retail business for 25 years. She has always loved journaling and feels the Lord is calling her to write devotionals to help others with past hurts. Although she is naturally shy and reserved around new people, we feel she is going to draw many to God with her writing.
Ministry Updates
If you want to see all the Lord has done in their ministry. They share shorter updates than a typical monthly or annual newsletter using an email-based platform called Prayvine.
If you would like to receive updates on James & Marla you can request to be added to their list by sending an email to jreynolds.courtside@gmail.com
Watch the video testimony of this woman by clicking the YouTube image at the top of this website.
Let’s celebrate and give testimony of how good God is!!
Collectively in 2024 Courtside Ministries volunteers have prayed with more than 19,000 people, saw over 800 people commit their lives to Jesus, gave away more than 3,500 Bibles, and referred over 2,000 people to local churches and area resources.
Our steadfast volunteers at over 80 tables in 18 states, including new tables in Cincinnati and Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, are beacons of light in the darkness. Each table overflows with testimonies.