Pastor Patrick Penn

The Dwelling Place Church

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Cullman County, AL. My parents cried out to God on my behalf before I was 2 years old when a truck ran over my head. Their simple prayer was, “God if you spare his life, we will bring him up in church.” God honored their prayer and miraculously spared my life so I was brought up in church. At age 9 I made a decision to know and accept Jesus and realized at that moment that I would be serving God with my life.

I graduated with a Psychology degree from U.A.B. in 1994 and married my high school sweetheart, Andrea, in 1995. We moved to Huntsville in 2002 and have served as founding and Lead Pastors at The Dwelling Place Church since 2005. We have 3 amazing boys Seth (16), Samuel (12) and Charly (3). I love equipping believers for their God given destiny, traveling on mission trips, taking family vacations and date nights.

What motivates you to do what you do?

I’m motivated, knowing there is always someone who needs to be rescued by God’s love. God miraculously rescued me from a horrific accident before age 2, before I was even capable of knowing Him. That speaks of His love for Me. I love Him because He loved me first. There are so many around us without hope who do not know how much they are loved by God. It reminds me of Jesus telling the story of the man who rejoiced more over finding the one sheep that was lost than the 99 that were not lost.

If on any given day I can help find the one person that has wandered from God or the one person that is lost and help them to somehow experience the same love from God that I have experienced then I’ve had a pretty great day. Looking for that one person every day to share God’s love with is what motivates me.

What is God speaking to you right now?

God has been speaking to me that His children should have the most hope, peace and joy on the planet regardless of what is transpiring around them. God’s Kingdom is a matter of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17.) If we have God’s peace and joy in our lives then it should motivate others around us to hope that they can have that same peace and joy in their own lives. That’s what the world needs right now- hope.

Therefore, I believe that God is saying that His children should be the greatest hope ambassadors on earth. I believe God is saying there is hope for America, there is hope for His Church, there is hope for His children. It is time for His Church to arise and shine in the midst of darkness. He is saying that He has called us to be a bright beacon of light and hope on a hill so that those wandering in valleys of darkness without hope can easily find Him through us.

What does unity in our city mean to you?

I believe true unity is a work of the Holy Spirit that produces city transformation. Let’s be real transparent, we could debate differences in doctrine all day and at the end of the day, we could still disagree and continue to teach and preach our own convictions. That’s why there are so many denominations spun off from one Bible. I’m not suggesting that this is a bad thing. In fact I like what the Bible has to say about diversity and I celebrate the unique gifts that God places and uses in His people (see 1Co.12:4-7.)

I don’t believe you can talk about unity without considering the two greatest commandments- love God and love others. Genuine love for God and others produces humility- a necessary component for unity. Therefore, I see unity as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is so great that it causes us to lay down our divisions and to link arms regardless of our differences in genuine love and humility, to see Jesus Christ honored in Huntsville.

Please pray for our city

“Father, Jesus taught us to pray Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, so I pray that Huntsville will experience Heaven on Earth. I pray that You would advance Your Kingdom in Huntsville. May every aspect of society in Huntsville be transformed by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us Godly leaders in Huntsville in the areas of government, education, media, family, religion, arts/entertainment, and business.

Watch over our city to protect it and to keep it safe from any plans of the enemy. Father, I pray that you would accomplish the plans and destiny that You have for Huntsville as a city. May the inhabitants of Huntsville experience the wonders of Your love and spread it to the nations in Jesus Name.”

Pastor Patrick Penn
The Dwellling Place Church

Tags: Huntsville, Our City On A Hill, Pastor Patrick Penn, Pastor's Corner, The Dwelling Place Church