Tim Ross is an American pastor, podcaster, author, and ministry advisor born in Inglewood, California. He is best known as the founder of Embassy City Church in Irving, Texas, a multi-ethnic congregation he led from 2015 to 2022, and as the host of The Basement with Tim Ross, a faith-based podcast that has drawn over 300,000 subscribers and more than 25 million views.
Before planting his own church, Ross served in ministry roles at some of the most recognizable churches in America, including T.D. Jakes’ The Potter’s House in Dallas and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.
Today he works as a global ministry advisor, speaker, and entrepreneur through his company Upset the World, LLC.
Ross gave his life to Christ on January 14, 1996, and preached his first sermon just 42 days later. That speed tells you a lot about the man. He didn’t ease into ministry. He ran toward it.
Tim Ross at a Glance
| Personal | |
| Full name | Tim Ross |
| Born | c. 1974–1975, Inglewood, California, USA |
| Age | Approximately 50 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Spouse | Juliette Ross (m. May 1, 1999) |
| Children | Nathan Ross; Noah Ross |
| Education | |
| University study | Administration of Justice (law enforcement focus; did not complete) |
| Ministry | |
| Former title | Founding Senior Pastor, Embassy City Church |
| Church founded | Embassy City Church, Irving, Texas (2015) |
| Denomination | Non-denominational (Evangelical/Charismatic) |
| Previous churches | The Potter’s House (Dallas); Gateway Church (Southlake, TX) |
| Stepped down | October 2022 |
| Website | upsettheworld.com |
| Career | |
| Books | Upset the World (2020); Welcome to the Basement (2024) |
| Podcast | The Basement with Tim Ross (2022–present) |
| Company | Upset the World, LLC; B-Side (tech, 2023) |
| Net Worth | ~$1–3 million (estimated; not publicly confirmed) |
Early Life: From Inglewood to the Altar
Tim Ross was born in Inglewood, California, a city in Los Angeles County. He grew up with a background in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the United States.
That early exposure to expressive, Spirit-centered worship shaped how he would later preach. If you’ve heard Ross teach, you’ll recognize it right away.
There’s a rhythm to it, a directness, a warmth that comes from someone who grew up in church not as a visitor but as a resident.
Ross enrolled in college to study administration of justice. His plan was simple: become a law enforcement officer.
That plan lasted right up until January 14, 1996, when he gave his life to Jesus Christ. Less than six weeks later, on February 25, 1996, he preached his first sermon. He was approximately 21 years old.
The pivot from badge to Bible wasn’t a slow drift. It was an abrupt turn, and by Ross’s own account, a clear one. Life Today records that God “had other plans” for the young man from Southern California.
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Moving to Dallas: The Ministry Years Begin
In June 1997, just over a year after his conversion, Tim Ross moved to Dallas, Texas. That move started a ministry career that would span more than two decades in the Lone Star State.
Over the years in Texas, Ross worked his way through nearly every level of church leadership. He served as a youth evangelist. He worked as a young adult pastor.
He took on the role of director of student ministries, then associate campus pastor, then executive pastor of Apostolic Ministries, and finally lead pastor.
Each role gave him a different angle on how the local church works, and the full range of that experience would eventually make him one of the most sought-after church consultants in the country.
Tim Ross and The Potter’s House
One of the most significant stops in Ross’s ministry journey was The Potter’s House in Dallas, the megachurch founded by Bishop T.D. Jakes in 1996.
Ross served there as a young adult pastor for approximately four years, overseeing one of the most dynamic demographics in any church.
In an interview, Ross described the experience with genuine gratitude. He spoke of feeling fulfilled as a member and as a pastor, and he left with a clear sense of what he had built and what was next.
The Potter’s House gave him a platform, a discipline, and a front-row seat to how a large, culturally influential ministry operates.
Tim Ross at Gateway Church
Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, was another major chapter. Founded by Pastor Robert Morris, Gateway is one of the largest churches in America, with more than 35,000 members. Ross served on staff there, adding another layer to his understanding of multi-campus, evangelical ministry.
That relationship would later become foundational when he planted Embassy City Church as a sister church to Gateway in 2015.
Embassy City Church: Founding a Church in Irving, Texas
In 2015, Tim and Juliette Ross founded Embassy City Church in Irving, Texas. They planted it as a sister church to Gateway Church, with the expressed purpose of building a multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation.
The name “Embassy City” reflects the idea that believers are ambassadors for God’s kingdom in the city where they live.
Under the Rosses’ leadership, Embassy City grew to over 3,000 in-person members and thousands more online. The church built a reputation for authentic worship, relevant teaching, and an environment where people of different backgrounds could genuinely belong together.
The growth wasn’t accidental. Ross brought a precise combination of street-level relatability and theological depth to the pulpit.
He could speak to people who had never set foot in a church and to people who had grown up in one. That range is rare, and it drove attendance.
Stepping Down as Senior Pastor (2022)
In October 2022, Tim and Juliette Ross announced that they were stepping back from leading Embassy City Church.
Tim Rivers, a teaching pastor who had served at HighRidge Church in Fort Worth and had been personally mentored by Ross for more than three years, was named the new lead pastor.
The transition was not a crisis or a controversy. It was a planned succession. As the Vanderbloemen succession case study documented, Ross had been preparing his team for the handover and sensed that his season as senior pastor was drawing to a close. He and Juliette remained members of the church and stepped into a global advisory role.
“God chose Tim and when God chooses your successor, it makes the transition easy,” Ross said at the time. “When God speaks, we move and when we move, He responds.”
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What Does Tim Ross Do Now?
After leaving the senior pastor role, Tim Ross became a full-time global Christian advisor, podcaster, and entrepreneur. The transition was not a step back. For Ross, it was a step out, into a wider field.
The Rosses immediately began partnering with major ministries in an advisory capacity. Their early partner list included Embassy City Church, Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma (led by Pastor Michael Todd), Shoreline City Church in Dallas, Seeds of Greatness Church in Wilmington, Delaware, and Gateway Church in Southlake. Their work covers speaking, staff development, marriage ministry, and direct pastoral consulting.
The Basement Podcast
In 2022, Ross launched The Basement with Tim Ross, a podcast that quickly became his most visible platform. The concept is grounded in Luke 14:23: going into the highways and byways to bring people in.
The show is not your standard Christian podcast. Ross brings in guests from across the spectrum of faith and culture. He talks about real issues.
He’s candid about hard topics. The result is a show that has pulled in more than 300,000 subscribers and over 25 million views.
The title “The Basement” is deliberate. It connects directly to his 2024 book. The lowest floor is where the cornerstone is. If Jesus is the foundation, the basement is exactly where you want to be.
The B-Side App and Business Ventures
In 2023, Ross expanded into technology with the launch of the B-Side app. The platform delivers faith-centered conversations, exclusive podcast content, and enriching discussions designed to “shift culture through the lens of faith.”
It is part of his broader company, Upset the World, LLC., which operates his speaking, publishing, conferences, and marriage empowerment work.
Tim Ross’s Books
Ross has published two books, both centered on the same core conviction: that following Jesus means turning the world upside-down.
| Title | Year | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upset the World | 2020 | Gateway Press | Original edition; based on Acts 17:6 — early believers accused of upsetting the world |
| Welcome to the Basement: An Upside-Down Guide to Greatness | 2024 | Thomas Nelson | Fully revised and rewritten edition of Upset the World; foreword by Michael Todd |
Welcome to the Basement carries the endorsement of New York Times bestselling author and pastor Michael Todd, who called it an opportunity for readers to “do more than you ever thought was possible.”
The book is built around the idea that in God’s kingdom, the only way up is down. Humility is not weakness. It is the ground floor of everything.
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Tim Ross’s Wife: Juliette Ross
Tim Ross married Juliette on May 1, 1999. She has been a constant ministry partner. Every major chapter of Tim’s career has had Juliette in it. They co-led Embassy City Church together. They stepped down together. They launched their advisory practice together. Their marriage is not a background detail in his biography. It is load-bearing.
The Rosses run a marriage empowerment ministry as part of their work through Upset the World, LLC. Juliette is not simply a pastor’s spouse who attends events.
She is actively involved in the consulting, the conferences, and the vision behind everything they do together.
They have two sons: Nathan and Noah.
Tim Ross’s Age and Birthday
Tim Ross has not publicly shared his exact date of birth. Based on available records, he was approximately 21 years old when he gave his life to Christ in January 1996, placing his birth year around 1974 or 1975. As of 2026, Pastor Tim Ross is approximately 50 to 51 years old.
He began preaching at age 20, which aligns with sources that confirm he started ministry in 1996 at around 21. The slight variation in these figures suggests his birthday may fall later in the year, after January.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Tim Ross preaches from a non-denominational, charismatic evangelical framework. His theological roots go back to COGIC, but his ministry expressions are broader. At Gateway Church and Embassy City, the culture was one of accessible, practical teaching grounded in Scripture but aimed squarely at everyday life.
His central themes run through every platform he occupies. He talks a great deal about humility as a path to influence.
He frequently returns to the idea that greatness in God’s kingdom works in reverse. You don’t climb to the top. You go down. The Basement, his podcast, and his books are all expressions of the same theology.
He is direct and unfiltered without being abrasive. That combination is what built Embassy City’s culture and what continues to draw listeners to The Basement. People trust someone who sounds like they’re telling you the truth, not performing a version of it.
Tim Ross and Transformation Church
One of the partnerships Tim and Juliette Ross entered after leaving Embassy City was with Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, led by Pastor Michael Todd.
Transformation Church is one of the fastest-growing churches in America. The Rosses serve in an advisory capacity, helping with staff development and pastoral support.
The relationship between Ross and Michael Todd speaks to how Ross is perceived among a new generation of church leaders. He is not simply a former pastor.
He is a respected elder in a network of churches that are redefining what multi-ethnic, culturally relevant ministry looks like in America.
Tim Ross Net Worth
There is no publicly verified net worth figure for Tim Ross. He has not disclosed his finances, and no reputable financial database has confirmed a specific number.
Estimates from celebrity net worth sites range widely, from roughly $1 million to $3 million, but these figures are unverified speculation.
What is clear is that Ross has multiple income streams. These include book royalties, podcast revenue, speaking fees, ministry consulting through Upset the World, LLC., the B-Side app, and his conference work.
For someone who has spent over 25 years in ministry at some of the largest churches in America, a seven-figure net worth is plausible. Beyond that, nothing can be confirmed.
Interesting Facts About Pastor Tim Ross
- Ross gave his life to Christ on January 14, 1996 and preached his first sermon exactly 42 days later on February 25, 1996.
- He originally went to college to become a law enforcement officer, studying administration of justice before his conversion redirected his path.
- He grew up in COGIC (Church of God in Christ), one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world.
- Embassy City Church was planted as a sister church to Gateway Church, which has over 35,000 members.
- His book Upset the World (2020) was later fully revised and re-released as Welcome to the Basement in 2024 with a foreword by Michael Todd.
- The Basement podcast has surpassed 25 million views and 300,000 subscribers since launching in 2022.
- Ross and Juliette Ross are ministry partners to Transformation Church, Gateway Church, and several other major ministries simultaneously.
- He launched a technology company, B-Side, in 2023, marking a clear step into the Christian media-tech space.
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Tim Ross Ministry Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 1974–1975 | Born in Inglewood, California |
| January 14, 1996 | Gave his life to Jesus Christ; was approximately 21 years old |
| February 25, 1996 | Preached his first sermon |
| June 1997 | Moved to Dallas, Texas to pursue ministry |
| Late 1990s–early 2000s | Served at The Potter’s House (Dallas) as young adult pastor for approximately four years |
| Early–mid 2000s | Joined Gateway Church (Southlake, TX); served in multiple leadership roles |
| May 1, 1999 | Married Juliette Ross |
| 2015 | Founded Embassy City Church in Irving, Texas, as a sister church to Gateway |
| 2020 | Published Upset the World (Gateway Press) |
| 2022 | Launched The Basement with Tim Ross podcast |
| October 2022 | Stepped down as senior pastor of Embassy City Church; Tim Rivers installed as new lead pastor |
| 2023 | Launched B-Side, a faith-based technology company and app |
| 2024 | Published Welcome to the Basement (revised edition, Thomas Nelson) |
| 2025–2026 | Active as global ministry advisor, speaker, podcaster, and entrepreneur |
Frequently Asked Questions About Pastor Tim Ross
Who is Tim Ross pastor?
Tim Ross is an American pastor, podcaster, and author from Inglewood, California. He is the founder of Embassy City Church in Irving, Texas, where he served as senior pastor from 2015 to 2022. He is now known as the host of The Basement with Tim Ross podcast and works as a global ministry advisor through his company Upset the World, LLC.
Is Pastor Tim Ross married?
Yes, Tim Ross is married to Juliette Ross. They wed on May 1, 1999. Juliette is his active ministry partner. The two co-led Embassy City Church together and now jointly run their advisory and speaking work. They have two sons, Nathan and Noah.
Is Tim Ross still married?
Yes. As of 2026, Tim and Juliette Ross are still married. There is no public record of any separation or divorce. They regularly appear together in ministry contexts and continue to run their shared business and advisory work.
How old is Pastor Tim Ross?
Tim Ross’s exact birthday is not publicly confirmed. Based on records indicating he was approximately 21 years old when he gave his life to Christ in January 1996, he was likely born in 1974 or 1975. He is approximately 50 to 51 years old as of 2026.
Where is Pastor Tim Ross from?
Tim Ross was born in Inglewood, California, in the Greater Los Angeles area. He relocated to Dallas, Texas, in June 1997 and has been based in Texas ever since.
Where did Tim Ross grow up?
Tim Ross grew up in Inglewood, California. He attended college there to study administration of justice before his conversion to Christianity in 1996 redirected his path toward ministry.
What happened to Pastor Tim Ross?
Nothing bad. In October 2022, Tim Ross voluntarily stepped down as senior pastor of Embassy City Church to pursue broader ministry work. He and Juliette transitioned into full-time global Christian advisory roles, launched The Basement podcast, and started the B-Side technology company. The leadership transition at Embassy City was planned and executed over several years.
What does Tim Ross do now?
Tim Ross now works as a global ministry advisor, podcast host, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. He hosts The Basement with Tim Ross podcast, runs the B-Side app, and operates Upset the World, LLC. He and Juliette advise major churches including Transformation Church, Gateway Church, and Shoreline City Church.
What is Tim Ross’s net worth?
Tim Ross’s net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Estimates from unofficial sources range from $1 million to $3 million, reflecting his income from podcasting, speaking, books, consulting, and his B-Side technology company. No official figure has been disclosed.
Is Tim Ross still at Transformation Church?
Tim Ross is not a staff pastor at Transformation Church. He serves in an advisory capacity, partnering with the church alongside other ministries through Upset the World, LLC. His relationship with Transformation Church and its pastor Michael Todd is one of several active advisory partnerships the Rosses maintain.
What is The Basement podcast by Tim Ross?
The Basement with Tim Ross is a podcast launched in 2022 under Upset the World Studios. It features conversations on faith, culture, current events, mental health, family, and real-life issues through a gospel lens. The show has more than 300,000 subscribers and 25 million views. New episodes release weekly.
