CRESTVIEW — Commuters heading eastbound on James Lee Boulevard into Crestview may have noticed some construction work outside city limits.
Praise, Power and Compassion Ministries recently broke ground for a church at 2188 James Lee Blvd. The 16,000-square-foot facility, to be completed in December, will seat nearly 400 people and include Sunday school classrooms and a fellowship hall.
"It's an awesome feeling to see a vision come to pass," the Rev. Darrell Coleman, the church’s pastor, said. "Whenever a vision is fulfilled, it says a lot about the people involved."
The people whom Coleman was referring to are his congregation, nearly 160 people who attend services.
“Were small, but engaged,” Coleman said, referring to the church membership and its dedication.
“Funding for the (over 9-acre) property and the building wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for the donations from within the ministry,” he said.
The fellowship hall should help those with more than spiritual needs, Coleman said.
"We have people that come in off the street who attend on Sunday morning," Coleman said, adding the ministry provides food and clothing to the area’s homeless.
The church membership also ministers to nursing home residents and performs gospel music for them. In addition, the church weekly ministers to Okaloosa County Jail inmates.
Coleman and Lula, his wife of 31 years, started the church in 2002 after moving to Crestview.
Praise, Power and Compassion is a "non-traditional, non-denominational ministry based in the infallible word of God," the ministry's website, ppcmin.com, states.
"Churches have a very orthodox way of doing things," Coleman said. "Were just a little bit different."
"I believe the spirit of God should dictate how the service should flow," he said.
Those interested in learning more should attend a service one Sunday, Coleman said.
Want to go?
Praise, Power and Compassion Ministries currently meets at 294 N. Main St. See ppcmin.com for more information.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
