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Powell’s last service will be at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at Grace Lutheran, 1801 St. Paris Pike, followed by a retirement luncheon and program. The public is invited.
Powell reflected on his service from his office, which now has several nail holes where pictures hung and book shelves sit empty. His desk remains decorated with countless photos of his work with the church.
“God called me to come to this church. I prayed for clarity and 32 years later He was probably right,” Powell said.
In that span, Powell has seen his congregation outgrow its former building on Harding Rd. occupied for 85 years to a 40,000-ft. building on 35 acres in 1999. Along the way he’s had steady support from his staff and congregation of around 1,500, which Powell credits to their being receptive to ongoing reform.
“It’s made me a different pastor than when I came in,” he said.
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Born in Columbus and raised in Toledo, Springfield wasn’t new in 1987. He graduated from Wittenberg University and three years of seminary, gaining a good impression of Springfield.
Tennis was a favorite sport. Powell played for the Tigers’ varsity tennis team, at various courts around the city as well as stints as a pro at the former Northwood Hills Country Club and coached boys and girls teams at North High.
Leaving the city to preach, there was little thought of returning here. In the Lutheran Church, the average stay is five to seven years for a minister in a given location.
Powell was at a growing church in Hilliard when asked to consider an opening in Springfield. Given he’d gone to school and his wife, Jill, was from here and had family here it wasn’t a tough decision.
“Springfield isn’t a big city; it has all sorts of things we liked,” he said.
Powell was actually younger than the children of the then-current pastor. The fit was comfortable for pastor and congregation.
The move to the new church was an adventure, negotiating for land that proved to be a good move, especially when the expansion on North Bechtle Ave. occurred and the church’s profile was raised as it overlooks the businesses.
“That land wasn’t for sale but it got worked out and what a miracle,” Powell said. “That move was a redefining moment.”
Although it’s a bit more space than they knew what to do with, the staff and congregation put in things such as offering a community center available to other ministries, and outside adding a ball diamond and created Grace Gardens, which harvests 8,000 pounds of crops a year.
Powell laughs that some of the varieties of vegetables he’s never even heard of, but is proud it’s donated to food banks and church members.
Retirement will be a new adventure. All but eight months of the Powells’ marriage has been in the ministry. They plan to remain in Springfield and discover things they hadn’t been able to due to his total commitment to Grace Evangelical.
“We’re going to find out what it’s like to be married and feel what it’s like to be retired,” Powell said, smiling. “My family has been patient and generous and I want to give back to them.”
That will include ball games and ballet recitals with their four grandkids. Monday will see the couple on Lake Erie boating and fishing, a longtime hobby, and from there, he’ll see.
Powell wants Tom Brodbeck, who will move from associate to senior pastor, to have his time.
“I’ve been richly blessed to have been part of a congregation that still exists and grows. I’m going to miss the people. I’ll drive by this location and say ‘I was part of that,’” said Powell.
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