The Tampa Tribune
By MICHELLE BEARDEN
Published: July 30, 2010
TAMPA - She wanted to be a doctor, specializing in pediatrics or obstetrics. Big dreams for a girl who grew up in the housing projects in Sarasota.
"But our desires aren't always what God has in store for us," Patricia Hauser says now. "I always tell kids: Have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. Then do whatever God decides for you."
Hauser, 53, is the founder and senior pastor of Potter's House Deliverance Tabernacle in Tampa, a non-denominational and multi-cultural church. In nine years, it's grown from a handful of members to about 250. The congregation meets in a modular building on its property on Harney Road. This fall, members will break ground for their new 20,000-square-foot Life Center complex, which will include a sanctuary, commercial kitchen and recreation center for programs that serve the community.
That's Hauser's other passion. After all, she tells the members, what good is a church that just takes care of its own?
With that mission in mind, she also serves as director of Potter's House Community Development, a nonprofit that provides outreach, assistance, counseling and mentoring programs through government grants and church volunteers.
"She's someone who genuinely cares about people. And it's not something she delegates to others. She's right there with us, hands on and very reachable," says Denise Jackson of her pastor. "After being here, I couldn't imagine going to another church. This is a place where I feel comfortable and challenged."
Here's just one example. When Hauser learned families were living in poverty in "every pocket of Hillsborough County," she looked for programs that could help meet their needs. She doesn't mind crossing those invisible lines and partnering with government. If church and state can work together to improve conditions, why not?
She found just what she was looking for.
For the second summer in a row, Hauser is fulfilling her vision to feed hungry children who get subsidized meals the rest of the year through their schools. Working with a state-sponsored program that provides federal reimbursement for breakfast and lunch, Potter's House is preparing, delivering and serving 300 meals a day at four sites in the Bay area.
Church staff and volunteers, who had to undergo training and certification through the state to participate, begin early in the morning, working in a kitchen provided by Living Faith Assemblies of God on East Sligh Avenue. They prepare nutritious breakfasts and lunches that meet the food pyramid standards, then distribute them at Living Faith and at three YMCAs, which run summer camps for children. The morning and mid-day meals are given out free to anyone under 18 years old.
"A good breakfast and a good lunch definitely equal a good day," says Brian Ordonez, a camp counselor at YMCA's Central City branch. "Without that, some of these kids would go hungry. They're not going to be able to do arts and crafts or play sports. They're going to have headaches, they're going to have fatigue, and they're not going to have a good day."
Hauser has an even bigger vision for next summer. She wants her church to run a feeding program seven days a week from the new commercialized kitchen. She hopes to expand it beyond children to others in need, such as the elderly and homeless.
"We live in a privileged country, yet there are so many underprivileged people," says Hauser, who is divorced and has no children. "But to make a difference, we have to be united together."
Though her life took an unexpected turn – from healing bodies to healing spirits, from science to faith – she knows this course was the right one for her.
After graduating in 1980 from the University of South Florida with degrees in zoology and psychology, Hauser set her sights on medical school. When she didn't get accepted, she went back to school to study computer engineering. She eventually started her own company, managing a three-tiered pharmaceutical firm.
All the while, a small still voice told her: Your true calling is ministry.
"I think God was always calling me. There were a lot of conversations early on, only I didn't realize it," she says. "When I chose to really listen, things fell into place."
Hauser went back to school again, this time for a master of divinity at Payne Theological Seminary, followed by her doctorate at United Theological, both in Dayton. Though she could have bypassed the schooling to lead a nondenominational church, that's not how Hauser operates.
"I'm always a student, always learning," she says. And credentials certainly help in a profession dominated by men. She recognizes that in some circles, a woman serving as senior pastor is downright blasphemous. That's a discussion she won't engage.
"I tell them there's enough work for all of us to do," she says. "If they have a problem with me in charge, go talk to God."
See the summer feeding program in action on Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" Sunday at 9 a.m. on WFLA-TV. She can be reached at (813) 259-7613.
By MICHELLE BEARDEN
Published: July 30, 2010
TAMPA - She wanted to be a doctor, specializing in pediatrics or obstetrics. Big dreams for a girl who grew up in the housing projects in Sarasota.
"But our desires aren't always what God has in store for us," Patricia Hauser says now. "I always tell kids: Have a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. Then do whatever God decides for you."
Hauser, 53, is the founder and senior pastor of Potter's House Deliverance Tabernacle in Tampa, a non-denominational and multi-cultural church. In nine years, it's grown from a handful of members to about 250. The congregation meets in a modular building on its property on Harney Road. This fall, members will break ground for their new 20,000-square-foot Life Center complex, which will include a sanctuary, commercial kitchen and recreation center for programs that serve the community.
That's Hauser's other passion. After all, she tells the members, what good is a church that just takes care of its own?
With that mission in mind, she also serves as director of Potter's House Community Development, a nonprofit that provides outreach, assistance, counseling and mentoring programs through government grants and church volunteers.
"She's someone who genuinely cares about people. And it's not something she delegates to others. She's right there with us, hands on and very reachable," says Denise Jackson of her pastor. "After being here, I couldn't imagine going to another church. This is a place where I feel comfortable and challenged."
Here's just one example. When Hauser learned families were living in poverty in "every pocket of Hillsborough County," she looked for programs that could help meet their needs. She doesn't mind crossing those invisible lines and partnering with government. If church and state can work together to improve conditions, why not?
She found just what she was looking for.
For the second summer in a row, Hauser is fulfilling her vision to feed hungry children who get subsidized meals the rest of the year through their schools. Working with a state-sponsored program that provides federal reimbursement for breakfast and lunch, Potter's House is preparing, delivering and serving 300 meals a day at four sites in the Bay area.
Church staff and volunteers, who had to undergo training and certification through the state to participate, begin early in the morning, working in a kitchen provided by Living Faith Assemblies of God on East Sligh Avenue. They prepare nutritious breakfasts and lunches that meet the food pyramid standards, then distribute them at Living Faith and at three YMCAs, which run summer camps for children. The morning and mid-day meals are given out free to anyone under 18 years old.
"A good breakfast and a good lunch definitely equal a good day," says Brian Ordonez, a camp counselor at YMCA's Central City branch. "Without that, some of these kids would go hungry. They're not going to be able to do arts and crafts or play sports. They're going to have headaches, they're going to have fatigue, and they're not going to have a good day."
Hauser has an even bigger vision for next summer. She wants her church to run a feeding program seven days a week from the new commercialized kitchen. She hopes to expand it beyond children to others in need, such as the elderly and homeless.
"We live in a privileged country, yet there are so many underprivileged people," says Hauser, who is divorced and has no children. "But to make a difference, we have to be united together."
Though her life took an unexpected turn – from healing bodies to healing spirits, from science to faith – she knows this course was the right one for her.
After graduating in 1980 from the University of South Florida with degrees in zoology and psychology, Hauser set her sights on medical school. When she didn't get accepted, she went back to school to study computer engineering. She eventually started her own company, managing a three-tiered pharmaceutical firm.
All the while, a small still voice told her: Your true calling is ministry.
"I think God was always calling me. There were a lot of conversations early on, only I didn't realize it," she says. "When I chose to really listen, things fell into place."
Hauser went back to school again, this time for a master of divinity at Payne Theological Seminary, followed by her doctorate at United Theological, both in Dayton. Though she could have bypassed the schooling to lead a nondenominational church, that's not how Hauser operates.
"I'm always a student, always learning," she says. And credentials certainly help in a profession dominated by men. She recognizes that in some circles, a woman serving as senior pastor is downright blasphemous. That's a discussion she won't engage.
"I tell them there's enough work for all of us to do," she says. "If they have a problem with me in charge, go talk to God."
See the summer feeding program in action on Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" Sunday at 9 a.m. on WFLA-TV. She can be reached at (813) 259-7613.
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." John 21:16 NIV
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