Bishop-Elect James L. Martin, Sr. is a native Washingtonian. He and his wife, Minister Tawanda Martin, reside in Fort Washington, Maryland and are the proud parents of seven children, and the proud grandparents of four. He was educated in the DC Public School System, and attended the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts, Strayer Business College and the Wilbur H. Waters School of Religion and Theological Seminary. At Wilbur Waters, he received the Bachelor of Divinity degree in June 1990, the Master of Divinity degree in June 1992 and the Doctor of Divinity degree in June 1995, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Bishop-Elect Martin was delegated to the Progressive Baptist Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1979. He was licensed to preach the gospel in September 1986 and was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in October 1988. In 1996, he was recognized as an Outstanding Young Man of America; and in 2006, he was featured in the September/October edition of the Gospel Today magazine as one of the "50 Most Loved Pastors." On November 3rd of that same year, he was named 1340 AM-WYCB's "Pastor of the Week." Bishop-Elect Martin has functioned as an Associate Minister, Minister of Music and Assistant Sunday School Superintendent at the Corinthian Baptist Church in Lanham, Maryland (formerly in Washington, DC.), where he currently serves as the Senior Pastor and under-Shepherd.

Bishop-Elect Martin is a member of the Hampton Minister's Conference, the Baptist Minister's Conference of Washington, DC. and Vicinity and the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a certified Marriage Ministry counselor and a certified Evangelical Teacher Training Instructor. On Friday, October 30th 2009 at his 11th Anniversary Celebration, he was elevated to Bishop-Elect by Bishop Glen A. Staples, Presiding Prelate of the Temple of Praise Fellowship.

It is Bishop-Elect Martin's petition and aspiration that, "through the preaching of the Gospel, self will decrease, God will increase and the seat of religion will be relinquished for that of a relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ." His motto is, "just let me live my life and let it be pleasing Lord - to thee. And should I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary... to God be the glory for the things He has done!"