About James
James Mark Barthel equips thousands of Christian leaders to break through barriers, scale with purpose, and walk in bold partnership with God. He is a trusted Growth Leadership Coach, accomplished entrepreneur, and leading voice in Integrated Faith Business™ .
After walking away from a thriving corporate career managing major government contracts, James found himself $300,000 in debt, with two kids in college and a floundering start-up. Broken and on his knees, he cried out to God. The answer came: a biblical roadmap for growth—what would become the Integrated Faith Business™ Framework, reshaping his life and leadership.
Anchored in these powerful truths, James and his team built a two-person venture into a national, eight-figure market leader serving consumers, small to Fortune 500 companies, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, and the U.S. military. Their faith-driven business was featured in Forbes and ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.
After selling the company, James stepped into a new calling: mentoring and equipping Christian business leaders. He launched New Horizons LLC, expanded the nonprofit Kingdom Business Alliance (KBA), and serves on the board of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce–USA.
This book was forged in a 1,000-day journey of prayer, surrender, and spiritual awakening following his wife's miraculous healing from cancer. It brings together two decades of business wisdom and fresh divine insight, offering a proven path to grow what matters most, with God at the center.
James holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Colorado. He lives in Golden, Colorado, with his family and enjoys hiking the Rockies and playing golf.
This is James
Trust Built Over Time.
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"I've known James Barthel for the better part of two decades and have come across few who have as deep an understanding of the intersection of business and ministry as he does. I've watched him scale his own business while instituting deep biblical principles and Christ-centered values, and we've adopted many of them in our own businesses as we scale. James has strong Spiritual discernment and decades of experience walking with Jesus in the marketplace and his wisdom will be an incredible blessing to many."
Brian Sump | Founder, Urban Autocare
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"This book is truly inspiring and is sure to transform the lives of those who engage with the principles and activities it describes so well. Honestly, I believe its principles apply to almost all aspects of our working lives. Your stories about the business trips and dealings in Israel, including those at the Sea of Galilee, are genuinely inspiring. Especially as I watched you grow and deepen your relationship with the Lord during that season. Isn't the Lord SO GOOD, how He faithfully walks with us and helps us grow and mature as we open our hearts to Him?"
Pastor Mike Mott | King of Kings Church, Jerusalem
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"Thou Shall Grow is one of those rare books that speaks to both your spirit and your strategy. As someone passionate about helping Christian entrepreneurs build businesses that matter—for the Kingdom and for the marketplace—this book hits home for me. It lays out a clear, biblical framework for aligning your faith, leadership, and business in a way that feels both practical and deeply rooted in purpose. If you’ve ever felt stuck or sensed God calling you into more, this book will challenge and equip you to grow in all the right ways—personally, spiritually, and professionally. Highly recommend it."
Mike Saunders, MBA | The Authority Positioning Coach
