The power of prayer is the main reason for the ministry of James Milanesa. His mother, Camille, prayed for more than ten years that her son would find his way back to the Church. James was pursuing a modeling and show business career and had openly abandoned his faith in the midst of glamorous fast lane of the entertainment world in Hollywood and NYC. Always on the run and exhausted, he fell asleep behind the wheel of his car and suffered a frightening crash. By the Grace of God, James walked away from the wreck without so much as a scratch. The terrifying ordeal and reality of what ‘could have been’ really got his attention. It was almost as if he had been handed a second chance in the form of this ‘wake up call’.

Shortly thereafter, he moved back to California, much to the delight of his mother and her band of prayer warriors who had been praying in earnest for James’ return to the Church. With his new lease on life, James recommitted his life to Jesus and began doing volunteer work with several local youth groups. His witness to youth is that God was walking with him even when he was not walking with God. He had struggled with the violation and trauma from his early childhood, which he buried deep inside. He also suffered from severe leg pain as the result of a genetic disorder, which caused a dependency on prescription drugs. As he worked with youth, he found many suffering from similar childhood experiences and he began to share the stories of his past and later addictions.

During this time, James began to use his musical gifts and well-trained tenor voice in ministry, giving his testimony and singing about the power of prayer and the love of God. He has recorded an album of contemporary pop songs of hope and encouragement entitled, “Along the Way” and has also recorded “Our Lady’s Rosary in Song”. He is the founder and Director of Agatha House for Abused children, a wellness center for abused youth. For the last 6 years, James has been the national spokesman for the Life Foundation, which is a pro-life movement working to end abortion through prayer and to offer the love and forgiveness of Jesus to those who have suffered abortion. He is also the national spokesman for Gabriel’s Angels, a not for profit organization that brings trained dogs to visit with at risk youth.

He has traveled extensively in ministry throughout the US, Europe, Asia and a host of Third World nations. James’ most humbling moment came in Calcutta, India in 1995 (and to this day, remains his highest honor) when he was invited to sing to Mother Teresa and the 1500 clergy present on her feast day. After the song, she anointed his feet with oil, kissed him on the forehead and told him that God was calling him forth to minister to the poor in spirit of the world. He has taken her literally and works most diligently with the poor in spirit focusing on youth who are at risk, on those who come from abusive homes and situations. As a result, his ministry has been invited back to India on three separate occasions.

Among his other accomplishments in ministry, James has given keynote addresses on such topics as, “Speaking Out against the New Age”. He has made repeated appearances on EWTN’s “Life on the Rock” with Jeff Cavins and on Century Cable’s “Upon This Rock” and “Visions”. For three years, he co hosted a weekly Christian TV Show, “Youth Alive” with over two million viewers. James also traveled throughout Europe in the role of Jesus, with “The Passion” and toured as a featured performer in numerous productions of the Jesus Crusade. He has been interviewed on many radio programs including St. Joseph’s Worldwide Radio and WTIX in New Orleans. There have been feature articles and reviews in You Magazine, The Berkeley Times, the CMN Trade Journal and local newspapers throughout the U.S.

James is currently working on a new recording with well-known Christian musician, Israel, in his Arizona studio and is in negotiation to develop a national partnership Christian TV network. Anyone blessed to be in his presence, immediately sees his love for God and his dedication to helping others. His heart for the young is contagious, as is his charming and witty personality. James Milanesa will make you smile and will show you the way home, traveling the same road he took, the one that leads to God.