Great Soul-Winning Churches - Elmer Towns

Another factor that changed Pennell’s life was reading The Ten Largest Sunday Schools
by this author. He indicated, “After I read the book, I got on my knees and repented for having
such a small vision.” Then, after reading America’s Fastest Growing Churches by this author, he
determined that “If they can do it, so can I. I’ll build one of the greatest churches in America.”
Temple Baptist has been a little church on the hillside overlooking Kingsport. Now,
Pennell indicates it’s going to be one of the largest in America: “It’s not a matter of should we do
it, we must do it.” He adds, “Let’s not be pessimistic about reaching our town for Christ; we’ve
done great things in the past, which means we can do greater things in the future.”
Chapter Seventeen
Reimer Road Baptist Church,
Wadsworth, Ohio John Powell, Pastor
“Where Everybody Is Somebody”
A two-tone green bus lumbered along the country road, turning north into the parking lot
of Reimer Road Baptist Church, out in the country some 17 miles from Akron, Ohio. Lettered
across each of the 15 buses is “Where Everybody Is Somebody”—more than a motto to this
congregation. The church has an ordinary man, Reverend John Powell, as pastor, and the
congregation is filled with average people. John Powell doesn’t have the best training, he doesn’t
use the best English, he doesn’t have the best pulpit polish, but the people of the church believe
he is the best pastor in America. The hundreds he has led to Christ know he is the best soulwinner
in America. The rapid growth of the church attests to the fact that God has called him to
pastor the congregation.
By all odds, the church shouldn’t be growing, because it is out in the country. The church
ministers in the shadow of large Akron Baptist Temple, yet keeps winning people to Jesus
Christ. Neighborhood officials have passed laws to limit the church’s growth, yet the parking lot
keeps filling up each Sunday and multitudes keep coming. The power of the gospel is the only
explanation for the expansion of the church. If a group of people ever depended on God for
growth, this congregation does.
John Powell was born in West Virginia and, at age 14, accepted Christ in the Sand Ridge
Methodist Church. He had heard about God, but never had been brought to a decision. During a
revival meeting, Hollis Higginbotham put his arm around young John and said, “If you’ll go
forward, I’ll go with you.” Powell testifies that Higginbotham is his spiritual father to this day.
John Powell was out of the will of God until after he was married, had three children and
was working in a chemical factory in Barberton, Ohio. A friend invited him to the Norton Baptist
Church, where Dr. Jack Downs was then pastor. His wife wanted to go forward, but he stood at
the end of the pew and wouldn’t let her out. He admits, “That’s how far backslidden I was.” Next
Sunday, both went forward to rededicate their lives. Immediately, Powell became assistant in the
junior department to Harold Swafford (who later became his assistant pastor at Reimer Road).