Before pursuing the Lord’s call to the pastoral ministry, Pastor La Belle spent 4 years in the grocery store business and 8 years in the construction business, during part of which, he partnered his own business with his brother as General Contractors.
Pastor La Belle was born in Florida, raised in Alabama until he was 15 years old, and then lived in Washington until he was 30, when he and his family left for Seminary in Philadelphia. He and his wife Chantry have been married for 20 years and have 7 children from ages 19 to 9: River, Schylie, Forrest, Terra, Sandy, Rocky, and Chantry. Before having children, he and his wife spent almost 10 months in Africa (with one trip to Zimbabwe and one trip to Mozambique) doing missionary work with Youth With a Mission (YWAM).
Pastor La Belle finds his greatest delight in reading the writings and sermons of the 17th century English Puritans. He reads them for personal edification and then teaches through their writings that he might share such gold with others. His favorite authors are the Puritans, and among them, Thomas Goodwin, whose theological genius, passionate piety, and pastoral heart he finds both exemplary and contagious. Pastor La Belle is the author of Living By God’s Promises (2010) and Living Zealously (2012), both co-authored with Dr. Joel Beeke, as well as Living for God’s Glory in Marriage (forthcoming). All three of his books address a neglected theme by drawing from several Puritans who addressed it.
Visit his church website here.
Listen to the full interview with James below.