who we are
We are a “ministry without walls”… a truly unique collaboration of Christian believers who have devoted themselves to the tireless mission of community outreach and Christian principles as a way of life and service.
We are a “ministry without walls”… a truly unique collaboration of Christian believers who have devoted themselves to the tireless mission of community outreach and Christian principles as a way of life and service.
Pastor Wendell is the founder of The Gift Pad Christian Outreach Centers and “A Gifted Church.” TGP is a multidisciplinary ministry composed of Gift Corps, a volunteer organization; Win Humor Act Create Know Learning Centers, an academic enrichment program; the Bestow Schools; and a marketplace worship service called Thankful Thursdays that provides free and nutritious lunch alternatives to the downtown city center community.
He served on and as President of the Birmingham City Council in early 2004. His service was featured in Black Enterprise magazine’s top ten municipality edition. He also served as an ambassador for the American Council of Young Political Leaders on its delegation to Tanzania/Zanzibar and he has recently hosted a Birmingham delegation of policy and business leaders from Africa on behalf of ACYPL.
Pastor Wendell graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. He has done further study at Emory University’s Candler Divinity School in Atlanta, at Case Western Reserve’s Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland and at Birmingham-Southern College.
He is the founder and managing partner of the Loder, PC law firm and has been practicing law since 1995. Through his practice, he has handled a number of significant cases involving consumer and civil rights, including an often cited bankruptcy case establishing homeowners rights to notice before foreclosure and a heavily relied on local case establishing property exemption rights for land owned by churches and religious entities.
He is married to the former Adrianne Lawnyette Ragland and has two daughters, Kimya and Kamaya.
Co-Director/General Counsel/Senior Pastor
Pre-K – Lead Teacher/School CEO
Elder Adrianne Loder serves as the CEO of Bestow Schools, Bestow Early Learning Centers and Win Humor Act Create Know Learning Centers. She previously served as the Senior Director of Youth Christian Education for The Worship Center Christian Church where she oversaw the development of its children, youth & college ministries. Adrianne is currently a troop leader for The Girl Scouts of America and her troop has generated a Gold Award winning scout.
Adrianne has dedicated over 17 years of service to impacting the lives of children and families. Adrianne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has also studied in UAB’s graduate school of education and at Jacksonville State University and received a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Adrianne is the wife of Attorney and Pastor Lee Wendell Loder and the proud mother of two daughters, Kimya and Kamaya.
Our mission is to manifest our faith through purpose driven, creative, interdenominational Christian service.
We offer an array of outreach ministries and welcome you to experience a new way of fellowship.
The Gift Pad services the community through a host of organizations. They include: Gift Corps, Gifted, Gift of Character, Gift Closet, Bestow School, My Law Plan, TeaCakes, Inc.
We believe that we WIN the battle between good and evil through service.
(1 Cor 9:19)
We believe that Godly HUMOR helps believers overcome obstacles.
(Matthew 14:27)
We believe we must ACT now to position ourselves for use in miraculous Kingdom work.
(James 1:17)
We believe that we should CREATE unique opportunities and methods to share Christ.
(Romans 12:2)
We KNOW that the Word of God is the road to redemptive living.
(Matthew 7:15-20)