“Who is James?”

Introduction: A Life Redeemed

My name is James Polk. I am a sinner redeemed by Christ, someone who has experienced firsthand both the reality of human brokenness and the greater reality of God’s grace. I carry with me a past marked by indiscretions and mistakes—things I wish I could forget, but which remain a reminder of how I was when not walking very closely with Christ.

“But if I say, ‘I will not remember Him
Nor speak anymore in His name,’
Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am tired of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it.”
— Jeremiah 20:9 (NASB)

For a long time, I feared that my legacy would be nothing more than those failures. Yet God, in His mercy, gave me a holy fear—not of condemnation, but of being remembered for wasted years rather than for a life transformed by His Spirit.

That fear became a calling. The Lord pressed on my heart the truth that words alone are not enough. True faith is faith in action, made visible through works of love and service. I realized that if God had changed my heart, I must now live out that change in a way that brings life to others.

Transformation: From Self to Service

In the course of my Christian walk, I came to see that faith without works is dead. I could sit in church, sing in the choir, and enjoy fellowship—and those are all good things—but I felt the Spirit pulling me deeper. God gave me a conviction that my testimony would only be complete if it bore fruit that others could see, especially those in the deepest pain.

That fruit has taken shape in a vision to serve victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of the darkest realities of our time: men, women, and children treated as commodities, robbed of dignity, and left scarred in body and spirit. These are the ones most in need of experiencing Christ’s love not as an abstract idea, but as a tangible presence in their lives. My calling is to help provide that presence.

The Birth of Praxis Professional Foundation

Out of this conviction came Praxis Professional Foundation, Inc.—a nonprofit ministry dedicated to showing Christ’s love to victims of human trafficking. The word praxis means “faith in action,” and that is exactly what this ministry seeks to embody.

Praxis is not just about providing services. It is about being Christ’s hands and feet, offering real-world support and care in ways that open hearts to the Gospel. By walking with victims in their pain, helping them rebuild their lives, and surrounding them with a community of believers, Praxis becomes a living testimony that God’s love is real.

Our prayer is that through Praxis, hundreds of victims will not only find healing but also encounter the transforming power of Christ.

Connection to the Church

I believe strongly that this is not just my work but the Church’s work. God calls the Body of Christ to stand together in witness, mercy, and life together.

Praxis seeks to walk hand-in-hand with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. We envision starting with my own congregation, inviting brothers and sisters to pray for this ministry, advocate for it, and support it institutionally. From there, we hope to connect with the 35 LCMS congregations in San Diego County and the 3 in Tijuana, building a coalition of churches united in showing Christ’s love to victims.

We also plan to share this story more broadly at LCMS conferences, such as Best Practices for Ministries, where thousands of fellow Lutherans gather to celebrate and learn from one another’s ministries. Praxis can be one of those stories—a living example of faith in action that invites others to join in prayer, partnership, and support.

Looking Forward: Vision and Hope

The Lutheran Mission Society of San Diego has set forth a bold vision: to develop 100 new ministries that bring the Gospel to people in San Diego and Tijuana by 2030. Praxis is one piece of that vision, born out of my own testimony of transformation and my desire to help others experience the same.

My hope is that Praxis will not only bless victims of trafficking but also inspire others in the Church to step out in faith and start ministries of their own. If God can take a sinner like me, with a past marked by failure, and use me to bring hope and healing to others, then truly nothing is impossible for Him.

Conclusion: Who I Am in Christ

So, who is James?
I am someone who once feared being remembered only for failure, but who now lives with the hope of being remembered for faith in action. I am someone whose heart has been changed by Christ and who desires, above all else, to help others encounter that same love. I am a servant of the Lord, seeking to obey His call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Through Praxis Professional Foundation, I pray that Christ’s love will shine into the darkest places, bringing freedom to the captive, healing to the broken, and salvation to the lost.

Now I plan to refine these into something I can confidently present to my congregation, other LCMS churches, and at conferences like Best Practices for Ministries. I think breaking it into Why, Vision, and Next Steps so it becomes clear, inspiring, and actionable makes sense.