About the Pastor
Pastor Jesse is a passionate and dedicated servant of Christ with a heart for young adults and high school students. A graduate of Cairn University, Jesse was awarded the prestigious Dana Kull Memorial Scholarship for Christian Vocations, selected from a national pool of applicants. During his time at Cairn, Jesse's commitment to ministry was evident in his involvement in a wide range of leadership roles. He mentored incoming freshmen, served with Campus Crusade for Christ and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and was actively involved in YoungLife, a ministry focused on reaching high school students with the Gospel.
While still a student, Jesse faithfully served as a Youth Director at Coastal Christian, his home church, and volunteered with the Riverstone Church Youth Group, which is local to Cairn University. Jesse also led a campus Bible study, "ABIDE," and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Bible and a Master of Arts degree, receiving the Christian Service Award for his dedication.
Since graduation, Jesse has successfully gone through the pastoral ordination process. Now, the Reverend Jesse Stokes continues to serve faithfully at Coastal Christian as the Director of Abide Youth Group and Oasis Young Adult Ministries. He regularly delivers Sunday messages, leads Connect Groups, discipleship programs, and has a heart for evangelism both locally and internationally. Jesse's heart for the marginalized has led him to frequently serve with "If Not for Grace," a ministry dedicated to feeding and clothing the homeless in Kensington, PA, while sharing the Gospel. His outreach efforts extend to missions trips abroad and ongoing ministry to the homeless in Atlantic City and surrounding areas. Jesse also maintains a strong online presence, reaching out to the digital community with the message of Christ.
On July 26, 2025, Coastal had the blessing of celebrating the marriage of Jesse and Ellie. Their love for the Lord shines through in the way they serve together with joy and steadfastness. Ellie’s sweetness and compassion beautifully complement Jesse’s boldness and heart for evangelism, and together they make a wonderful team in both life and ministry.
We are truly blessed to have Pastor Jesse as a vital part of our Coastal Christian family, where he continues to inspire and lead others toward a deeper relationship with God.
