Luverne native Dianne Richardson developed faith in God at an early age and after living and serving in Atlanta, moved back to the area, and opened a church in the house where she lived as a child.

Richardson said at age 9, she prayed for help with an arithmetic test. A power outage had prevented her from studying for the examination, and when an assembly delayed the test, she sensed God urging her to trust Him with every concern.

“I heard His voice say, ‘Don’t ever worry again,’” Richardson said. “That was really the beginning of my faith.”

Richardson attended Tuskegee University, where she again sensed God directing her not to be afraid, and learned to meditate on that assurance.

As she began to realize a call to ministry, Richardson said she grappled with exactly how that calling would take form. Growing up in a Baptist church, she did not believe a woman should preach, but she could not let go of the feeling she should share God’s message with her community.

“I opened my Bible and read, “Many are called, few are chosen,’” Richardson said. “At the time I must have been 25. I was a Baptist girl. Baptist women don’t preach.”

Richardson explored her calling and visited other denominations before becoming an evangelist in the 1980s and later an ordained Baptist minister while living in Atlanta.

“Where I ran from, He brought me to,” Richardson said. ‘The experiences I’ve had with God and through God have really been an interesting journey.”

After returning to Luverne, Richardson opened Faith Deliverance Ministry in her home at 313 Woodford Avenue. For the last 14 years, she has hosted worship services each Saturday evening at 5 p.m. and Bible study on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

“In all those years, no two services were the same,” Richardson said. “It was amazing. I know that was God’s movement.”

Richardson records Bible teaching called Brighter Day for broadcast on Troy Cable Channel 2, which airs each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Even when COVID restrictions prohibited members from attending in-person worship, Richardson funded the broadcast using her own finances to continue sharing God’s message of hope.

“I am persistent, and I won’t get out of the way,” Richardson said.

Richardson shares “tidbits” on social media, to encourage and inspire her followers. The ministry has sponsored jail ministry, volunteering in local schools, and park programs where children play games and received school supplies.

Gladys McKee has known Richardson since their teenage years.

“She serves God with her whole heart,” McKee said. “I’ve seen her do so much ministry — jail ministry, nursing home ministry, and even park ministry. She really loves her work and she does it well.”

For more information, follow Brighter Day Richardson on Facebook.