Rev. James Michael Hilson Professional Excellence - College of Arts and Science Pictured are Rev. James Michael Hilson (center), Dr. Walt Sinnamon (left), dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Dr. David J. Spittal (right), Southern Wesleyan University president

James Michael Hilson is the grandson of one of Southern Wesleyan University’s former presidents. Having studied music education and business administration at Appalachian State University, he transferred to Southern Wesleyan (formerly Central Wesleyan College) and received a bachelor’s degree in Christian ministry.

His pastoral experience began as assistant pastor of First Wesleyan Church in Kings Mountain, N.C., followed by becoming the senior pastor of Sandy Ridge Wesleyan Church in Hickory, N.C. In 1999, he was called to the New Life Wesleyan Church in La Plata, Md., as senior pastor with leadership of a congregation totaling around 60. The New Life church has grown to an attendance of more than 1,100 and has mothered four new self-sustaining churches with ordained, full-time pastors.
Ministries included leading his church to assist in Charles County, south of Washington, D.C., where more than 300 homes were without running water. New Life church has accepted the challenge to secure running water for the homes in need.

Another outreach into the community was when New Life church committed significant acreage to establish a graveyard and a new chapel in the center of Charles County. Hilson and his wife, Tina, have three sons.