This week on Preacher Handshake, we talk with Rev. Cean R James!

He is the Senior Pastor of Salt & Light, an interdenominational, intergenerational congregation in Southwest Philadelphia and Mt. Airy. He has a BS in Biology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, an MDiv from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, and has done doctoral work at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Rev. James is the Associate Conference Minister of Congregational Development for the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference, UCC. In 2023, he helped develop Kingsessing Heals Community Resiliency Center, a federally funded, trauma informed resource center that helps local residents cope and thrive in the face of gun violence. In 2025, Rev. James received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for Dedication to Community Service from President Joseph Biden. He is married to Kesha, and they share three sons, Clarence Milton, Jesse Joseph, and Cean Benjamin.

You can view Cean’s full sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JVveH7LwDk

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