
Corinth
Rome
Corinth
Rome
Jerusalem
Antioch
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Corinth
Rome
About the Minister
James M. Collazo
Founder & Senior Presbyter
First Century Christian Church
Erie, PA 16501
Phone: 814-806-9908
Email: info@COCFministry.com
Theologian, writer & veteran who leads by example!
Dedicated paleo-orthodox minister of Christian education with 10+ years of skill and knowledge. Comprehensive background teaching learners from college ministry to adult faith formation in diverse settings. A graduate of Southwestern College (Kansas) with an excellent grasp of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and academic education—highlighting the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation. Transitions effortlessly between military, academic, and church environments. Maximizes knowledge retention with detail, commitment to skilled conflict resolution, and creative solutions. United States Army veteran with 20+ years of experience at both operational and tactical levels. Military service includes peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, combat deployment to Iraq, and forward presence in Korea. Trained over 10,000 servicemembers in counter-IED readiness throughout CENTCOM. Promoted to Sergeant First Class (E-7) above peers in 2014. Experienced tactical leadership as M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander and infantry squad leader.
Highlights
• Academic • Military Leadership • Supervisory Skills
• Biblical Languages • MS Office Suite • Teaching
• Church Leadership • Personnel Supervision • Technical Writing
• Communication • Philosophy • Theology
• Computer Literacy • Program Management • Training
• Education • Public Speaking • Victim Services
• Leadership Development • Religious Studies • Volunteer Management
• Mentorship • Research Writing • Website Design
I. Education
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Master
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Theological Studies (M.T.S.), Southwestern College (Kansas), 2015
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Bachelor
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Religion, American Military University, 2013
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Associate
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General Studies, Barton Community College, 2010
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II. Employment
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First Century Christian Church (2022–present)
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Founder & Senior Presbyter
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CO/CF Ministry (June 2013–present)
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Founder, Writer & Editor
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United States Army (Sep 1999–July 2020)
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Electronic Warfare Specialist (June 2011–July 2020)
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Infantryman (Sep 1999–June 2011)
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III. Publications
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BLOG 1/21 (COCFministry.com/blog, 2020–present)
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Jesus: A Biography of the Christ of Faith & History (forthcoming)
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First Century Faith: Paleo-Orthodoxy for Today's Disciples (forthcoming)
IV. Teaching & Ministry
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Small-Group Bible Study Leader (Sep 2019–Oct 2020), United Methodist Church
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Wednesday Evening Class Leader (Sep–Dec 2017), United Methodist Church
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College Ministry Leader (Nov 2014–Dec 2015), Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
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Homilist (Sep 2014), Anglican Church in North America
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Bible Study Leader & Homilist (Jan–May 2014), U.S. Army Chaplain Corps
V. Awards
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Golden Key International Honour Society (April 2017), American Military University
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Magna Cum Laude (Dec 2015), Southwestern College (Kansas)
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Socratic Philosophical Honor Society (Dec 2015), American Military University
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Magna Cum Laude (Aug 2013), American Military University
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Delta Epsilon Tau Honor Society (Jan 2012), Distance Education Accrediting Commission
VI. Organizations
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Ratio Christi (July 2017)
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Intercollegiate Studies Institute (April 2017)
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Student Veterans of America (Aug 2016)
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Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Association (July 2016)
VII. Research Languages
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koinē Greek (elementary reading)
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biblical Hebrew (elementary reading)
VIII. Research & Teaching Interests
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Biblical Theology
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Anabaptism & Pietism
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Christian Existentialism
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Christian Origins
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Christology
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Early Church History
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Ecclesiology
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Eschatology: Partial Preterism & Historic Premillennialism
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Jewishness of Jesus & Paul
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Messianic Judaism
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New Perspective on Paul
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Radical Reformation
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Theodicy & Middle Knowledge
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Third Quest for the Historical Jesus
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Wesleyan & Methodist Theology
IX. Influences
Francis Asbury Felix Manz
Kenneth E. Bailey I. Howard Marshall
Richard Bauckham Alister E. McGrath
David W. Bercot James F. McGrath
Michael F. Bird Scot McKnight
Benjamin Blackwell Luis de Molina
Georg Blaurock Jürgen Moltmann
Craig L. Blomberg J. P. Moreland
Darrell L. Bock Mark D. Nanos
Helen K. Bond Jacob Neusner
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Thomas C. Oden
G. K. Chesterton Albert Outler
Thomas Coke Alvin Plantinga
William Lane Craig E. P. Sanders
Kent Dobson Michael Sattler
James D. G. Dunn R. Kendall Soulen
Maxie Dunnam Bruce L. Shelley
Craig A. Evans Ann Spangler
Tony Evans Philipp Jakob Spener
Francis of Assisi David H. Stern
Mark Goodacre Michael J. Svigel
Justo L. González Mark L. Strauss
Konrad Grebel Paul Tillich
Douglas Groothuis A. W. Tozer
Gary R. Habermas Lois Tverberg
Richard B. Hays Ray Vander Laan
Richard C. Halverson Valdesius (Peter Waldo)
Stanley Hauerwas Géza Vermes
Larry W. Hurtado Daniel B. Wallace
Jan [John] Hus J. Warner Wallace
Asher Intrater John Wesley
Daniel C. Juster William H. Willimon
Walter C. Kaiser Jr. Marvin R. Wilson
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen Ben Witherington III
Kenneth D. Keathley Christopher J. H. Wright
Craig S. Keener N. T. Wright
Søren Kierkegaard John Wycliffe
Martin Luther King Jr. Michael Wyschogrod
Amy-Jill Levine Philip Yancey
C. S. Lewis Brad H. Young
Michael R. Licona Nikolaus von Zinzendorf
X. Personal Information
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Nationality: American
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Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania
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Ethnicity: Puerto Rican, Anglo-Saxon
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Languages: English (native proficiency), Spanish (limited working proficiency)
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Hobbies: family, blogging, coffee, cuisine, hiking, reading, sports, writing
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Politics: distributism (see "American Solidarity Party")
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Theological Orientations: Molinism, paleo-orthodoxy, pietism, Wesleyan
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Worldview: center-right