Our Staff

Lead/Teaching Pastor
Jim Essian

Jim grew up in Detroit but traveled around with his family as his dad played and managed in professional baseball till he was 16.  Jim’s own professional baseball career started at 18 and brought him to Fort Worth, TX to play for the Fort Worth Cats where he met Heather, the greatest gift God has given him besides Jesus.  They married in 2004 and have a daughter, Harper Grace. Heather and Jim’s passion is to see Jesus glorified and lives transformed by the Gospel.

After eight years of professional baseball Jim retired and entered vocational ministry.  For two years he was a resident church-planting intern with Cityview Church in North Fort Worth.  Cityview is an Acts 29 daughter church of The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX.

Worship Leader
Matt Allen

I grew up in the southern suburbs of Chicago, but spent time in Houston, Phoenix, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, the Texas Hill Country, San Antonio, and Bedford, totaling 22 moves before finally making it to the good city of Ft. Worth. Only until recent years did I recognize the massive impact growing up in a loving, Bible-believing, strong Christian home had on me. I couldn’t be more thankful for my family. I spent a good amount of time in San Antonio, where I graduated high school, and met my beautiful fiance, Kaity Wilson, who I’ll marry in August.

I started leading back-porch worship gatherings the fall of my senior year of high school and haven’t stopped leading since. God’s grace towards me has been unceasing and pursuant in more ways than I can count. I couldn’t be more blessed to have been led to The Paradox late in 2010 and I thank God for them daily. In finding them, I thought joining The Paradox meant stepping down from leading worship to serve on the set-up team and live in community. To my surprise, Pastor Jim told me in late December of 2010 that I would be leading worship for The Paradox’s first weekly service, and I’ve been serving joyously with gratitude ever since.

Discipleship & Counseling Director
Ryan Keeney

Ryan grew up in Clyde, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, before landing in Richland Hills where he finished out high school. He then attended a local Bible college where he met his wonderful wife, Kaylan. They married in June 2006. After graduating college he worked on staff at two churches with high school and college students. Jesus transformed the trajectory of their life by calling them to Mars Hill Church, Albuquerque after meeting Pastor Dave Bruskas at an Acts 29 Boot Camp. There they went through leadership development and were plugged in to Redemption Groups where they were immersed in and truly experienced the fullness of the gospel and God’s grace.

After pursuing Jesus, they were led to move back to Fort Worth. Ryan connected with Pastor Jim and they moved June 2011 to be a part of The Paradox Church and love the City of Fort Worth.

Pastoral Intern
Nick England

I grew up in Richardson, Tx with a very loving family. Although I grew up going to church, I did not truly understand what Christ accomplished on the cross until I was 11 while at Sky Ranch summer camp. And even though my heart was changed, many of my actions did not reflect the God who had rescued me. It wasn’t until years later when Iwas 16 while at Sky Ranch that I better understood how the Gospel applied to my life.

I graduated J.J. Pearce High School in 2004 and went to Norman to attend the University of Oklahoma. I became very involved in Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) fraternity, my church as well as campus life. I graduated in December of 2008 with a B.A. in Communication and moved to Ft. Worth to work for BYX as a National Advisor and pursue a Masters from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I began attending The Paradox in September of 2010 and it has been a huge blessing. I enjoy good friends, great movies and Sooner football.