World Changes Tabernacle works at building relationships

Sandy Powell doesn't know how many police officers received a free lunch on Oct. 29 at the Columbus Public Safety Building, but she knows about 500 barbecue sandwiches were served.

"I figure many officers had more than one," said a smiling Powell.

The barbecue was cooked on a custom-made grill by her husband, Prathan L. Powell Sr., the founder and senior pastor of World Changes Tabernacle Church in Columbus.

Someday, he plans to market his special "everything but dessert" sauce.

"It's all natural," the pastor said.

The Powells came up with the idea for the meal but did not want to do it alone, so other churches were recruited to take part.

"We wanted to show the police the community is behind them and not just one church," the pastor said. "Jesus did not save the world by himself. He used disciples. We wanted a collaborative effort."

Other churches that participated were True Vine Ministries, Forest Park Baptist Church, Parkwood Baptist Church, Kingsville Baptist Church, Abundant Life Full Gospel Church, St. Peter Community Church, Agape Church International, Grace Awakening House of Prayer and Kingdom Faith Ministries.

The Powells plan to make the meal an annual event each October and hopes it gets even bigger.

It was not the first time the church had done something like this. Some members of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office have shared a meal at the church on Alta Vista Drive.

"There has been a lot of bad publicity about police these days, but we believe there can always be a bad apple in a bunch," the pastor said. "There are good and bad police officers just like there are good and bad pastors. We are trying to focus on the positive. We believe police officers serve a ministry and we want to help build a better relationship between police and people in the community. There must be trust from both sides. Let the police protect and serve us. Law enforcement is not the enemy."

Through the years, the church has been involved in many community activities.

"It is very important community sees the church going out to the masses," he said. "My belief is you have to go outside the walls to show the unchurched what the church is about."

The 52-year-old pastor is a Columbus native who attended Columbus High School and Beacon College. The youngest of 10 children, his father died when he was 18 months old.

His family was not particularly religious, attending church only on Easter and Christmas. Still, he felt the calling to serve God when he was in the fifth grade. A neighbor he calls his "spiritual mother" used to tell him, "Prather, you will be a great man of God."

"It came to pass," the pastor said.

The Powells have been married five years but have been best friends for 20. Now, serving as one of 12 associate pastors, Sandy Powell began as a congregant.

The pastor said he began his non-denominational church in 1991 after the Lord spoke to him in a dream.

"It began with four people in my apartment," he said. For a while it was in a motel then two store fronts before the church moved into its current location in 1995.

"We built it from the ground up," he said.

The church has approximately 275 members.

"We are filled up on Sunday," he said.

Of his church, he said, "we are doing great things at this venue."

The pastor also serves as a chaplain for Gentiva Hospice in Columbus, a job he finds rewarding.

It is not just the spiritual health of his congregation that concerns him. He is an avid cyclist and began the "Pedal for Health" program to get his followers on bicycles. Recently, the church and the Columbus Planning Department hosted a "Ride Columbus" bike ride and cookout in which Mayor Teresa Tomlinson participated.

"There is too much obesity, which leads to problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes," he said. "We encourage everyone in the community to get more exercise."

Outreach programs he launched include a Save Our Youth computer training and job placement program.

He has traveled to places such as Israel, Canada and Germany to preach and has written four books with a fifth, "Public Success, Private Failure," due in 2016.

"I love God and have a real passion for what I do," he said. "I just want to do the will of the father and be a good servant."

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 9:58 PM with the headline "World Changes Tabernacle works at building relationships."