Dr. B. L. James resides in Lugoff, SC. He is the pastor and founder of The Living Church In the Lord Jesus Christ, (The City of Hope) in McBee, SC.  At the early age of 14, Dr. James accepted the call to preach the gospel and three years later was ordained by Bishop C. L. McLaughlin the presiding prelate of the United Churches of Christ.

 

In February of 1980, Dr. James accepted the call to start a small church in McBee, SC. He along with Prophetesses Lyla and Lottie Mitchell opened the doors of the church and God was present. Dr. James was led to name the church, The Living Church of Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. Some 30 years later, the church is still alive and is now named The Living Church In the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Dr. James serves as the presiding prelate of the Holy Apostolic Nation in the Apostles’ Doctrine Inc. (H.A.N.A.D) and the B. L. James Ministries. H.A.N.A.D is a ministry that believes in the operation of the five-fold ministering gift of the Holy Spirit. These bodies of believers hold totally to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Dr. James believes that the church is still behind in the things that Jesus Christ intended for the body of Christ, particularly those things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, Dr. James believes that H.A.N.A.D has a responsibility to push the church further into the things of God, by preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God truth.

 

James said, ‘Now that we have an understanding of the Doctrines of the Church, let us move on into the deeper things of God. Jesus did not come just to put us in the church so that we can go to heaven, but He has anointed the church to give birth to kingdom believers.” James said, “In the kingdom there is no lack for anything. In the kingdom we are totally delivered in our soul, mind and body. This is what makes us the body of Christ and this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”

 

Dr. James has preached across many denominational lines and has traveled near and far declaring that Jesus is Lord. His message is a message of Hope for people everywhere. God has a special call upon his life to reach out to all who stand in need of a Word from the Lord Jesus Christ. He believes that Jesus wants to save and set you free.

 

Dr. James received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Benedict College, Columbia, SC. He has a Master of Arts in Religion with

emphasis in Christian Education, and a Master of Sacred Theology Ministry (STM) with emphasis in Church History from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbia, SC. He received his Doctoral degree in Supervision Leadership from United Theological Seminary (UTS) in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. James is currently employed as an Instructor/Professor of Religion at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina.