Apostle Lawrence Powell

The Preachers Story

Apostle Lawrence E. Powell

To begin with, the very first thing Apostle Lawrence would want made clear:  “If anyone should ever write my life story…for whatever reason there might be…Jesus was there!…through every pain and any glory…JESUS IS THE BEST THING, THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME!

Now, Apostle Lawrence, affectionately called by family and some friends, “Larry,” was born to Clayton DeWitt Powell and Mary Alzada Harold in Denver, Colorado on May 26, 1946. His wife, Apostle Sandra, often teased him as she stated “he was one of the 11 people actually born in Colorado!”

Lawrence was 4th of 6 children and the middle son out of 3. He matriculated in several elementary schools in the Denver area, before attending Carlos M. Cole Jr. High School and continuing to Manual High School and graduating in 1964. While a Thunderbolt at Manual High, he and his friends Mackey and John Williams—to name a few, spent an inornate amount of time across the street from the school in the park ‘discussing the ways of the world!’

In 1970 he met and married Sue Gadison.  And to this union were raised three children, Sean Ryan, Lavies DuPriest and Sefra Kali.  In 1993 their daughter Sefra presented them with a handsome grandson, Christoffer, who grew up in their home also. They were a very loving and happy family. Sue preceded him in death on May 11, 1999.

As a young man, after graduation from high school, Larry enlisted in the United States Army.  He was trained as a Cook, assigned to the Army Post at Fort Carson, Colorado.  He received numerous commendations for his meritorious service. During his time in Denver, before leaving for military duty, he dated and became engaged to his present wife, none other than Sandra Washington.  When he left for the military, she graduated from high school and accepted a scholarship to Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia, Kansas.  After two years, she transferred and completed her studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  He was honorably discharged from the army, and they called off their engagement and moved forward in their lives keeping in touch through family and meeting up occasionally at Homegoing Celebrations.

After twenty plus years, they would reunite after the transition of Lawrence’s  wife, and after Dr. Sandra had served in the pastorate in Los Angeles for 10 years, then moved to Tulsa, OK to matriculate and complete graduate studies at Oral Roberts University.  She now had three beautiful children and had moved back to Colorado to plant Soul Care Full Gospel Center.

Meantime, Lawrence had become a pastor and planted Genesis Chapel Church here in Colorado.  He had matriculated at Denver Seminary and at Liberty University while he had served at Shorter Community AME Church under the mentoring leadership of Pastor J. Langston Boyd, Jr.

Fast Forward…Pastor Lawrence and Dr. Sandra miraculously connected once again after all those years apart living victorious lives and returning with three children each!  Both had two sons and one daughter.  Now Sefra “Rev. Sefra Burrell” had a younger sister, and Patrice “Tricey boo” had a big sister!  Our boys now were brothers!!  Of course, Pastor Powell was a ‘girl dad!’  Nothing he wouldn’t do for his girls!  Although, he also diligently taught all his boys valuable lessons that godly-men must know to please the Lord and receive favor from Him!  He exemplified every day of his life how to be a strong loving caring husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather!  He felt so privileged and honored to have raised one family, then be blessed by Almighty God to do it again!!

He and Dr. Sandra Powell were married in the year 2000.  Together they became a powerful force in Kingdom Ministry!  They were consecrated to the Apostolic in 2004 by Apostle L.A. Anderson & Old Campground Ministries International, then located in Chicago, Illinois.  They served under the awesome leadership covering of Bishop Harold W. Jones and Full Gospel Family Outreach Ministries of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Under the leadership of Apostles Lawrence and Dr. Sandra Powell, Soul Care Full Gospel Center flourishes in an Apostolic anointing characterized by a rich deposit of God’s wisdom to release apostolic teaching and ministry with demonstration of Kingdom power!  The love and labor Apostle Lawrence showed for Kingdom concerns was unmatched!  He and Dr. Sandra have taught & preached on Gospel Radio weekly for over 20 years.  They’ve sent out a daily Christian devotional Monday through Friday for many years.  This year they would have hosted their 29th International Pow Wow Christian Leadership Conference founded by Dr. Sandra, which has convened in well over 20 States and hosted twice out of the Country.  They were Chancellors and Chief Instructors in the Soul Care Bible Institute & Academy of Ministry—with an ongoing number of ministry-prepared graduates.  They have published numerous Training Manuals, with Apostle Lawrence’s greatest accomplishment being his Commentary on the Book of Revelations.  Their Ministry accomplishments go on and on…culminating with their Apostolic Covering of 4 anointed Ministries under their Umbrella of Churches… To God Be The Glory!

On May 5, 2023, Chief Apostle Lawrence E. Powell departed this life to the embrace of the Lord. Those left to cherish his precious memory and mourn his exodus include his devoted wife of 23 years, Apostle Dr. Sandra Powell; children, Sean (Shantel), Lavies (Dolores), Reverend Sefra (Chris), Stephan, Wil, Sr., Patrice (Derick); grandchildren, Tiana, Mariah, Lavies Jr, Christoffer, Dominic (Stephanie), Joelle, Alexis, Gerald, Zmarea, Caleb, Alianna, Wil Jr,; great grandchildren:  Mia & Anthony… sisters, Carol Carter (Early) and Cheryl Jackson; brother, Clayton DeWitt Powell, Jr. (Ora); sister-in-law, Joyce Stringfield, brother-in-law, Clarence Washington… And a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, other extended family, & The Soul Care Full Gospel Center Family & Friends!  REST VICTORIOUSLY ANOINTED GENERAL:  CHIEF APOSTLE LAWRENCE EARL POWELL.