Just outside the Bailey town limits sits a small church that's filled to capacity and ready to expand.
The service is full of energy. The congregation of about 50 people sings and claps along with the praise team, and hands raise freely in worship. Powell gets up and reminds parishioners of the individual blessings that have taken place within the church — a man who no longer has to be on dialysis, financial breakthroughs, college graduations and myriad life-changing events that he says God has provided within the church's almost two-decade existence.
Every fifth Sunday, Powell has a member of the congregation speak to the church in place of his sermon in an effort to "stir up the gifts" of church members. Powell said he chose his wife, Necola, to speak March 31 because he knew she had a message that needed to be heard.
Pastor Powell said that building his congregation up through Sunday church service prepares members to go out into the community and make a difference.
"There's a difference between religion and kingdom. That's what Jesus preached. He preached the kingdom of God. It's just how God rules and how God does things," Powell said.
Powell himself is living proof of that. In addition to his duties with the church, he also has just been appointed as a town commissioner in Bailey. He will be sworn in during the April 15 town board meeting.
While the church is small, there are plans in the works to expand the church within the next few years and provide several additional services for the community.
"Once we relocate, we want to have an after-school care," Powell said.