Leonard Chapple Sr. was born in Atlanta, GA, to the late Francis Chapple Dumas, On February the 16th, 1952. He has been married to Shelia A. Chapple for 46 years and is the proud father of six children, three girls, and three boys. Bishop Chapple accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in Nov. 1974 through the witness of his sister Elaine Chapple. He received his call to the gospel ministry in December of 1976 under Superintendent Felton Talley Sr. He was later ordained by Bishop J Howard Dell Georgia Northern First. After hearing the Holy Spirit speak to him, saying take the gospel to your family, Bishop Chapple started a Bible study in his mother's living room, Francis Chapple Dumas. The Bible study outgrew his mother's living room within a short time. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Bishop Chapple and his wife Shelia founded the Latter-Day Ministries Church of God in Christ in 1998, later rebranded to Victory In Praise Church of God in Christ.
Bishop Chapple is a man of God full of wisdom, a visionary servant leader who exemplifies a Christ-like attitude as he believes in serving God by serving God's people. Bishop Chapple has served the national church for over 17 years. He has served on the leadership team of the Church of God in Christ, an urban initiative under the leadership of Bishop Edwin Bass, the He served Church of God in Christ leadership conference under the supervision of Bishop Jerry W. Macklin. He presently serves as Co vice president of Men Perfecting Men under the leadership of Bishop Michael Golden. His dedicated service and commitment in the Georgia Northern First Jurisdiction date to over 35 years of service in numerous capacities: chairman of the elder's council, Superintendent of the Victory District, Urban Initiative coordinator, and first administrative assistant.
In addition, he worked with Civic and community affiliations, such as vice president of the restorative justice center, an organization dedicated to giving nonviolent teenage offenders a second chance. Thomasville ministers’ alliance is an organization geared toward improving relationships between law enforcement and the community where they serve. Learning Does Matter Literacy and the destined for greatness after-school program geared to the children in the Thomasville community. Founder of LCS leadership training; the mission of LCS is to train and develop targeted ministries and professional organizations by providing them with the tools and strategies to lead on purpose in an environment of godly character and social awareness.
Bishop Chapple caused a paradigm shift in the Fire Protection industry by becoming the second African American male to enter the trade and later becoming the first African American male to become a Superintendent in the Fire Protection industry, supervising the installation for such buildings as the Jimmy Carter presidential library and the Georgia Dome.
Bishop Chapple is a strong advocate of education. He graduated from Beulah Heights Bible College and Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, GA, with a B. S. in Biblical Education/ certified evangelical trainer/teacher/counselor and a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies. Bishop Chapple has received training from leaders such as Dr. John Maxwell, president of the Maxwell company, and pastor Jack Hanford Presiding Bishop of the Foursquare church, as well as our own Bishop Jerry W. Macklin first assistant presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ.
Bishop Chapple's God-given motto: Don't Hurt the Saints, has been a rule he has lived by, and God has blessed him for his walk-in obedience.
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