The Lord has blessed the Church of God by Faith with so many unique and talented women. Today, we want to introduce Donna Penny of Raleigh Church of God by Faith on the Gainesville District.  She is one of six children born to Tucker and Oneida Williams.

She is the wife of Deacon Adolphus Penny for 39-years and they have three children and six grands.

Sister Donna is proud of her marriage and advises young couples to keep God at the center of their relationships. She further believes couples have to give a little and take a little to maintain open communication and everything will be okay.  

Sister Donna’s grandmother, Mother Ethel Williams attended the Church of God by Faith in Williston, FL under the leadership of Emeritus Superintendent James Williams. Hence, she considers herself a born-and-bred ByFaither who fully accepted Christ at the age of 18-years-old. She was saved under Emeritus Bishop James E. McKnight, Sr.

One night, the young Donna was praying in the spirit and her family watched as she lifted up the name of the Lord.  It was at that time she felt her first call into the ministry. When Elder George Dix, Sr. became her pastor, he often compelled her to speak in Home Mission and to further developed her call into ministry. Consequently, she began her ministerial training through the COGBF Examining Board and was consecrated in July 2010.

Professionally, Minister Donna worked for an insurance company for almost 30-years but her job was restructured and shifted to Ohio in 2009. She was unwilling to move for the job and found herself in a place of uncertainty. As she awaited direction on her next move, she girded her Proverbs 31 spirit and started a home cleaning service to take some of the financial strain off her husband.

Minister Donna found happiness and satisfaction with her new role even though it was quite different from her previous corporate career.  Part of her joy was in meeting new people and sharing the word of God. One such woman became a dear friend and awakened a lifelong passion of Minister Donna.  When she was a young girl, she loved to visit older women to look at their china cabinets and other vintage and antique things.  

Her new friend owned a vintage furniture and antique shop and invited Minister Donna to come over; which she did frequently. During the process, she developed a passion for refurbishing furniture. Over time, she found herself fully engaged in the antique community and connected with the shop owner to display some of her goods.  One day, the shop owner opened another business and asked Minister Donna did she want to buy her out. Miraculously, through God’s providence, Minister Donna became the owner of Cottage Dresser Marketplace in Williston Florida! It was at this place where all of her faithful years of commitment to Christ came together.

She used the accounting skills she learned as the COGBF Raleigh secretary to do her books. When business is slow, she calls on the name of the Lord and anoints her business until customers come in.  She also has many customers who stops by for prayer and counsel which allows her to use the gifts she learned in ministry. Recently, Minister Penney found it in her heart to attain a truckload of watermelon to feed the hundreds of attendees at the national, Ocala Temple Fish Fry.

Minister Penny’s story confirms; yet again that God is an Awesome God and will open up blessings beyond what we could ever imagine receiving.

Please take a moment to visit this link to see Minister Donna’s store and stop by to say hi if you get a chance. She also accepts online orders, just contact her through Facebook.

Click here to view her Facebook Page.