Dick was born in 1947 in Monroe, Michigan, the son of Norman and Phyllis
LaFountain. He was raised in Monroe. Following high school, he attended Nyack
College in Nyack, New York, earning a bachelor of science in missions. In
May of 1972 he became the pastor of the Alliance Church in Clymer, Pennsylvania.
He was ordained in September of 1974 by the Western Pennsylvania District of the
Christian and Missionary Alliance. Subsequently, in 1976 returned to Alliance
School of Theology and Missions for graduate studies. From there he and his wife
Marilyn and their two children went to Brazil as missionary church planters with
the Christian and Missionary Alliance. They served in Brazil until 1984, when
they returned home to the USA and began pastoring in Pitman, New Jersey. After that
they pastored five years in Washington, Pennsylvania, and then served two years at the
National Office of the C&MA developing the Alliance Web site.
Pastor LaFountain accepted the call to be the Senior Pastor at Grove City
Alliance Church and began his ministry here in July of 1999. In addition to
pastoral ministries, he has ministered as evangelist, Bible School teacher,
taught Theological Education by Extension (TEE) and has been a speaker at Nyack
College. He has written numerous articles for Alliance Life and has been
published in The Christian Reader and other mission publications. He is an avid
researcher and has written and archived over 2000 profiles of Unreached People
Groups.