Life is a journey, marked by challenges, triumphs, and moments of profound transformation. For Larry Powell, the path to redemption began in the unlikeliest of places: a prison cell. Today, as the Facility Manager at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, he stands as a living testament to the power of faith, resilience, and God’s unending grace.

Growing up in the North and East neighborhoods of Nashville, Larry recalls a childhood shaped by adversity. “Crime and drugs were like the air we breathed,” he says. “I remember seeing kids, barely 15, standing on street corners with thousands of dollars, selling drugs like it was candy.” With no positive role models and surrounded by a culture of survival, he was drawn into the streets. The environment, combined with trauma and a desperate need to make ends meet, led to a series of poor choices that altered his life forever.

By the time he was an adult, Larry had been incarcerated five times for crimes involving drugs and, at one point, faced a homicide charge. His turning point came when he was facing life in prison. “That’s when I realized something had to change,” he reflects. But change didn’t come easily.

Adding to his pain was the unimaginable loss of three of his children in just 18 months. “I buried my kids and even preached at their funerals,” he says, his voice heavy with emotion. “Gun violence didn’t just take my children; it took a part of my soul. There were nights I cried so hard I thought I wouldn’t make it to see the next day.”

Larry describes the grief as suffocating, a weight so heavy it felt impossible to carry. “I was angry at the world, angry at myself, and yes, even angry at God,” he confesses. But it was in those moments of despair that he turned to the one thing that could sustain him: his faith. “I learned that God doesn’t waste pain. I had to believe that my children’s deaths weren’t the end of their story—or mine. I had to trust that God would use even this unbearable grief for His purpose.”

While in prison, Larry began cleaning the chapel as part of his daily duties. “I was making $28 a month, scrubbing floors and bathrooms for church services,” he says. It was during this time, on his hands and knees, that he found a glimmer of hope. “I prayed for a chance to serve in God’s house one day. I told the Lord, ‘If you get me out of here, I’ll dedicate my life to you.’ Two years later, when I was up for parole, I got my answer.”

When Larry walked out of prison, he had no idea what his future held. But God was already orchestrating his steps. A man named Don approached him with an unexpected opportunity. “Don told me he could get me a job at a church,” Larry says. That church was Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Despite his criminal record, the church welcomed him with open arms, offering him a position in the facilities department.

“That job wasn’t just a paycheck,” Larry explains. “It was my second chance. It was God saying, ‘I haven’t forgotten about you.’”

Fueled by a desire to grow deeper in his faith, Larry enrolled at Emmanuel Bible College, eventually earning a Doctor of Ministry degree. “Back when I was selling drugs, my customers used to call me their doctor,” he says with a wry smile. “Now, I’m a doctor for the Lord.”

But Larry’s story is about more than personal redemption. It’s about using his pain to help others. Today, he’s deeply involved in the Nashville community, serving as a board member for programs like 4:13 Strong and Still Standing. He also volunteers with local initiatives, including Men of Promise, aiming to guide at-risk youth and comfort grieving parents.

“I don’t want anyone to feel the kind of pain I’ve felt,” he says. “I lost three of my children, but through God, I’ve gained a ministry. I’ve learned to comfort others with the same comfort God gave me during my darkest days.”

When reflecting on his journey, Larry credits Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Bishop Joseph W. Walker III for playing pivotal roles in his spiritual growth. “This church taught me the true meaning of grace, forgiveness, and redemption,” he says. “It gave me a spiritual foundation and a family that has anchored me through the storms of life.”

To Bishop Walker, he offers heartfelt thanks. “Thank you for being a leader who listens to God’s voice and who pushes us to grow in our faith.”

Despite everything he’s endured, Larry’s faith remains steadfast. “God is my big homey,” he says with a chuckle. “I don’t question His calls. I just keep moving forward, knowing that every step I take is part of His plan.”

Larry’s journey from incarceration to redemption is a powerful reminder that no matter how far you’ve fallen, God’s grace can pull you back up. His story speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of faith. Through his work at Mt. Zion and beyond, Larry is living proof that God can turn even the darkest moments into a beacon of hope and purpose.