Where It All Started...
Bishop Jonathan Powell, D.D.
In 1952, Bishop Powell accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and dedicated his life to serving God. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Christian Duty Prayer Band. In 1957, Bishop Powell decided to move to New Haven, Connecticut from North Carolina and was led to join Pitts Chapel Unified Free Will Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Austin Atkinson. He joined the Male Chorus and was placed on the Deacon Board. While serving as a Deacon, he answered his call to the ministry that he had received in North Carolina. He preached his initial sermon the first Sunday in July of 1958 at Pitts Chapel. This moving subject was “Time for Decision”.
He began working with Reverend Stephen Jones, the founder of English Chapel UFWB and became the pastor in 1959 after Reverend Jones decided to return to North Carolina. The church progressed and grew tremendously with as many as 50 members. Under his leadership the following auxiliaries were formed: Deacon Board, Hospitality Committee, Inspirational Choir, Women Home Mission, Mother’s Board, Nurse’s Aide Unit, Pastor’s Aide Club, Sunday School, Trustee Board, Senior Unser Board, Men’s of Destiny, Youth and Young Adult Choir, Young People’s Christian League (YPCL), Junior Usher, Junior Missionary and Junior Choir. During Bishop Powell’s pastorate, more than a dozen young men and women received their call to the ministry and were ordained. Many preached their initial sermon under Bishop Powell, including Reverend Raymond Brimage, Bishop Robert Gay, Bishop Walter Joyner, Elder Clyde Joyner, Evangelist Margaret Parker, Evangelist Annette Glasper Phillips, Reverend Patricia Corley, Minister Sheila Bendolph, Evangelist Carnetta E. Hartley, Minister Helen Temple, Pastor King Hartley, and Elder Gloria Brown.
"Time for Decision"
The late Bishop Jonathan Powell was consecrated as Bishop in December 1972 at Pitts Chapel Unified Freewill Baptist UFWB Church in New Haven, CT with the late Bishop L. Caesar officiating and established the Sothern Connecticut Annual Conference. He received his Doctor of Divinity Degree in April 1973 and held various offices in the UFWB Conference before becoming the Presiding General Bishop of the UFWB Churches in 1979 where he served for 23 years before resigning on March 25, 2002. Bishop Powell continued to serve as the Presiding Bishop of the Southern Connecticut Annual Conference. In addition to their in-house ministry, Bishop and First Lady Powell hosted the Hour of Inspiration Television and Radio Ministry for many years airing in North Carolina, New York and Connecticut. He was a chartered member and served as 2nd Vice President of the National FWB church. He was a member of Hampton Institute Minister Conference (VA), IMA (CT), President of the Sothern Connecticut Annual Conference School of Christian Education, and a certified Teacher of the Evangelical Teachers Association.
He held several degrees, certificate and awards from various Biblical Colleges such as American Bible College, Voice of Prophecy and Mood Bible Institute. Great progress was made for English Chapel under Bishop Powell leadership because he was a dedicated Pastor who was a gift from God according to Jeremiah 3:15. The members were proud of his leadership and still uphold his teachings and honor. He was a man with a vision, a man of God who walked in the spirit of humility and he had the Fruit of the Spirit evident in his life. He supervised but was not one to drive; Inspired, but never demanded and he called his congregation to sacrificial service by his own example. His mind was that of an executive, but his heart glowed with the warmth of a Servant. He always put the church first. For in truth, he was a Servant called to be a shepherd as he and the congregation labored together in kingdom building. His ministry extended into the hospital, convalescent home, jails, court rooms, Bishop Powell was a preacher’s preacher, mentor, motivator, a leader and a builder. He served for 45 years until the Lord called him home on November 23, 2004.
