Jesus said that those who have been forgiven much, love much (Lk 7:47). In a nutshell, this is what happened to Pastor Paul and his wife, Patty.  They grew up in the Bay Area of Northern California and have been an “item" since junior high school.  They continued dating through high school and married right after graduating. During their early years, they participated in many illegal activities, including drug use, violence and theft. It wasn’t long before drugs and alcohol became a way of life.  Their relationship suffered, and the couple split. Three years went by in a downward spiral. Paul eventually hit rock bottom with nowhere to live, but in his car.

Through divine direction, Paul and Patty received Christ within a month of each other and began attending the same church.  Both testify that it was not the great preaching or church programs that changed their hearts--it was the love they were shown in spite of their shortcomings.  Months after they had received Christ, a mutual friend, Jack, discovered that they were separated.  By the love and conviction of the Holy Spirit, Jack counseled them towards reconciliation, urging them to give their marriage to God. They listened reluctantly at first, but eventually decided they would take a step of faith and trust God. 

In the following years, they were blessed with a thriving marriage, family, and ministry. They had eleven children and pastored two successful churches in California.

In the summer of 2003, Pastor Paul and Mrs. Patty felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to move to Atlanta and start the Atlanta Dream Center. As they had with their marriage years earlier, they took a step of faith and trusted God’s leading. They packed up their six children still living at home in a 15-passenger van and made the cross-country trek from California to Georgia. Not knowing where to start, they would drive through the city, praying and asking the Lord for direction. The Lord lead them to Old Fourth Ward- the same neighborhood where Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up and led many Freedom Marches. 

Since starting the Dream Center, Pastor Paul and Miss Patty have become fixtures in one of downtown’s most rundown neighborhoods. Ask anyone on the streets about the couple, and you will hear a story of how the streets of Atlanta have been impacted since their arrival. Thousands of people have been reached with the power of the gospel, and many more have come to “love much” because they have been shown by Pastor Paul and Miss Patty that they have been forgiven much by Him.