The Main Man, the Head Cheese, the Big Kahuna… NOT!

To us he’s Brad, and that’s what he likes to be called. He’s not your stereotypical “pastor,” but, we think that’s one of his best features. Get to know him; we’re confident you’ll love him as much as we do!

I’m not the typical pastor. Truth is, for most of my life, I haven’t related to many of them. To this day, I’m not in love with the title, which is why I prefer and ask to be called Brad. However, though I will never fit into the “pastor box,” I do know that I’m called by God to be one. In fact, I’ve been serving as a pastor for over 29 years. The first six years were in four different churches and locations, from Rhode Island to Florida and from 18 to 500 people. For the last twenty-three years, I’ve been the Senior Pastor here at NorthRidge, previously known as Temple Baptist of Detroit. As such, I’ve had the privilege of being part of an amazing transition… from an old dying church looking backwards to a great heritage and a very indefinite future, to a church that is making a profound impact in thousands of lives today.

Why has God given me this privilege? There are several reasons that I can identify. First, I match the profile of the kind of people God says He uses. 1 Corinthians 1:27, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” I’m a perfect match. Second, though flawed in many ways, God knows that I’m in ministry for one reason… I love Him and want others to know the redemption, love, fulfillment and hope that I’ve experienced in knowing Him. Third, in a generation where the church is in such desperate need for change without compromise, He wanted to provide an example of change that could provide hope. He’s done it in NorthRidge and me.

The lastest from Brad Powell Online…

• Asleep in the Light I believe the biggest obstacle to the church fulfilling the mission God has given us…is not on the outside…but on the inside. Too many believers are asleep in the light. And, the real problem here…is that they’… Read More
• How Are We Suppose to Respond? Okay, I get it. Following any contest, people have to vent. They do it with sports, reality tv, and politics. And, the more important the contest, the more vitriol in the venting. Here’s the problem…as believers&#… Read More
• Confession Time Okay…confession time. I’m a bit of a political junky. Why? Well, putting aside the simple explanations like…I’m dysfunctional, have a bizarre sense of what’s entertaining, and I must not have … Read More