Our First Lady

1st Lady, Anita Louise Klines Powell builds her life around this scripture. She knows that waiting for the Lord’s guidance and strength makes her a better woman of God. With God on her side, she acknowledges that she can be the Christian woman that God desires her to be and she can be the needed help for her husband, Rev. John R. Powell, in the ministry God has given to him at Gideon.

Anita was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She accepted the Lord at the early age of 12 years old and became a member of the Saint Peter’s Rock Missionary Baptist Church. This life-changing experience is something that she shall never forget.

In 2002, Anita Klines moved to Phoenix, AZ to be closer to her fiancé, Rev. John R. Powell. Sister Powell and Pastor Powell were united in holy matrimony on February 15, 2003, at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church where Rev. Powell was serving as pastor. This began her tenure as a 1st Lady.

After God led Pastor Powell to organize Gideon Missionary Baptist Church, Sister Powell became 1st Lady of Gideon. Being the 1st Lady of the church is challenging and rewarding for Sister Powell. Although it is a challenge, Sister Powell is fulfilling the duties with grace because she is dedicated in her service to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The needs of Pastor Powell as her husband and pastor are very dear to her heart. Sister Powell has committed herself to being strong in the Lord and assisting the ministry at Gideon where the need may be.

As 1st Lady, Sister Powell is active in multiple ministries at the church. She works directly with the Ministers’ and Deacons’ Wives, the Mother Board Ministry, the Women’s Mission Ministry, and the church’s Benevolent Committee. Her involvement does not stop there because she is a student of God’s Word as she faithfully attends Sunday School and Impact Hour (Bible study). Recently, she has joined with her husband as they seek to grow in God’s Word. Both are actively involved in a structured study course that is strengthening their Christian lives.

Sister Powell takes tremendous pride in working with the young women and girls of the church and helping them to understand what it means to be a ‘godly woman’ and how they should conduct themselves as ‘godly women.’ She firmly believes that this behavior should be seen in all aspects of these women’s and girls’ lives. She recognizes that women can live great, wonderful, and fulfilled lives and still live a life that identifies them as one of God’s women. The most important way that Sister Powell conveys this message is by striving to live a godly life before these women and all people.

The 1st Lady of Gideon is truly to be admired because she carries out all of her church duties while being a wife, mother, and grandmother. All of this is not easy but is done with style and grace by Sister Anita Louise Klines Powell, 1st Lady of Gideon.