Bailey reaches out to area

Published 3:12 pm Wednesday, April 25, 2018

James Cameron Bailey

James Cameron Bailey, known as Cameron, is a pastor who prefers firefighter gear and a T-shirt and jeans over a suit. He also prefers using Facebook over a pulpit.

Bailey frequently posts videos onto social media in order to reach out to the community. Among his videos include sermons that he preaches at Kenbridge Christian Church where he pastors, and videos showcasing free desserts at Shoppers Value the church gave away as an outreach program.

He said he works to be the good that people in the Lunenburg area may need.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” Bailey said, noting a phrase he has heard before.

“I think that’s what we’re supposed to do,” Bailey said about reaching out to the community. “The videos are just a small way to get the word out.”

Bailey said he began making the videos a few months ago to promote a sermon series from the church about John 3:16, which he said is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible in the world.

“We’re not using them to grow our congregation, we’re just using them to let people realize how much they need God, wherever that’s at,” Bailey said. “I want people to go somewhere, it doesn’t matter where, just go somewhere to get fed.”

He said the video he has had the most fun making was a video made close to a month and a half ago where he stood on the 50-yard line at the football field at Central High School, where he attended school, and recorded a video. He said he was worried about getting in trouble, but said he was surprised by the number of people who viewed the video.

He also recorded a video at Neblett Field, using the field as a sermon illustration. He said similar to how kids who play sports dream and hope to make the big league, he said God also gives people hope for the future.

“I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, I get told quite often I’m not the typical preacher,” Bailey said. “I’m in a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, just hanging out in the community. I don’t dress like a preacher. I don’t act like a preacher … I’m just the average everyday person who is in love with God and wants others to fall in love with him too.”

When Bailey isn’t making videos, he is working as a professional firefighter paramedic at Fort Pickett and volunteers for the Kenbridge Fire Department. He said he, his wife Hollie, and his three children are currently building what he calls their “forever home,” in Kenbridge. The house was the subject of Friday’s video, titled “Time to Grow Up,” where Bailey spoke about spiritual growth.