Rev. Cornelius Ponder III will be presented the 2023 Community Service Award by the Moultrie Women's Federated Club during its 35th annual Dr. MLK Jr. Day celebration. 

HARTSFIELD, Ga. — Sinner Friend Baptist Church in Hartsfield will observe its Senior and Junior Usher Anniversary at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27.

The Rev. C.L. Ponder III will bring the message.

Ponder, son of the Rev. C.L. Ponder Jr., served as minister of music under his father for 15 years at Greater Newton Grove Cathedral before he became assistant pastor in 2002. After seven years he assumed interim leadership under the elder Ponder’s guidance for three years, after which he became senior pastor with his father taking on the role of emeritus pastor.

Greater Newton Grove now goes by the name The R.E.A.L. Church – Moultrie. Ponder also pastors The R.E.A.L. Church – Tifton, formerly known as Dayspring Inspirational Church; The R.E.A.L. Church – Ellenton, formerly known as Immanuel Praise Tabernacle; and The R.E.A.L. Gathering, formerly known as The Gathering, also in Moultrie.

A graduate of Colquitt County High School, Ponder received his Ministry of Prophecy diploma from V.O.P. Institute in Los Angeles, Calif., and is currently enrolled in seminary school at Andersonville Theology College.

In 2005 he founded Pathway to Heaven Ministry, which now has established two entities, Pathway to Heaven Outreach Center and The Grove Development Center. In 2014 he founded Greater Inspiration, which is now a 501c3 organization that is used to provide free services to low income and economically deprived citizens.

He’s married to Kutana Ponder and has four sons, Jacorey, Hi’mod, Cornelius IV and Cornelius V.

He can be seen at www.youtube.com/pathwaytoheaven and a local television broadcast on CNS Cable (Channel 6) 8-9 a.m. and 8-9 p.m. each Sunday.

The Rev. W.B. Sales is pastor of Sinner Friend Baptist Church, and Deacon Otis Williams is president.