Honorees
Community Leadership Honoree
Bishop Edgar A. Posey
Bishop Edgar Allen Posey is the Pastor and Founder of Living Faith Apostolic Church in Columbus, Ohio where he has been delivering the “Uncompromised Word” for 50 years. He served as the diocesan of Venezuela, the 59th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, before his retirement to emeritus status.
Once he accepted salvation, Bishop Posey aggressively embraced the plan of God for his life and ministry, leading to Living Faith being seen on satellite and broadcast television, live streamed, heard on radio, and the truth of God being read about in nearly twenty books. Truly “global,” the ministry of Dr. Posey and Living Faith has been experienced throughout the United States and Europe. In fact, the ministry has physically “touched” every continent but Antarctica and Australia!
Over the years, God has been extremely specific in His messages to Living Faith, building a foundation in Bishop Posey and the congregation that is rooted and grounded in faith. Through this means, He has been able to reveal His wishes systematically and methodically for those operating in “Last Days Ministry.”
Most importantly, He has spared nothing in teaching us that the only life accepted by Him is the life of transformation. This life is not possible except through partaking of Jesus’ death through baptism in His Name, the subsequent infilling of the Holy Spirit, and living by God’s mandate that we be baptized into death in order to live a “new” life (Rom. 6:4).
Having always believed that a socially active and conscious ministry helps win souls to Christ, he was directed to found the MiraCit Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3). Through it, the lives of those in the community of Living Faith and the City of Columbus have been bettered through rehab housing, new builds, senior residences, green space development, an early learning center, a K-12 charter school, and the acquisition and operation of a grocery store.
Last, but not least, he is the “safe place” and “bestest” friend of Lady Tracey Posey and is the father and “hero” of Ian, Joshua, and Erin; grandfather of Mikeisha; “Grand G-Paw” of Katin Anthony – and “Paw-Paw” to many.
Legacy Honoree
Bishop Howard Tillman
Bishop Howard Tillman has traveled the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has served in several local, state, and national leadership capacities, shared the stage with some of the nation’s renowned ministers and shattered conventional styles of worship, preaching and leadership. Yet with all he has accomplished, Bishop Howard Tillman has remained unassuming and humble.
Bishop Tillman’s journey is full of faith steps. One prominent step was his role as the founder, president, and chief evangelist of The End‐Time Revival Evangelistic Crusade (TETREC). The crusades, led by Bishop Tillman, and the choir that was birthed from the organization became nationally known; the choir recorded three live albums during its tenure. During this period, he served in several capacities as a prominent and influential leader in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
Another faith step prompted the birth of New Covenant Believers’ Church, Inc. (NCBC). NCBC held its first service on Nov. 5, 1989, at the King Arts Complex. Within five years, the ministry had outgrown the facility, purchased more than 40 acres of prime real estate and built its current sanctuary ‐‐ phase one of an ongoing building project.
In 2004, Tillman’s first book was published, Deliverance from Denial. His first CD was also released that year, entitled “Inspiration for the Time.” In 2006, an Episcopal Consecration and Ordination service was held, elevating Tillman to the office of Bishop. In 2008, Bishop Tillman self‐published his second book, I Need a Ride, and a third, The Kingdom Mind: Finding Treasure in the Thoughts of God, in 2018.
As New Covenant Believers’ Church, Incorporated celebrated 32 years of ministry, the ministry was blessed with the opportunity to expand. NCBC Southeast opened, making NCBC a multi‐campus ministry.
Affectionately known as the “1505 Campus,” it is an additional worship center with fresh expression, focused on winning the lost. Bishop Tillman and his wife and life partner in ministry, Glenneth Marie, were blessed with three sons: Howard Landon, Heath Lamont & Hayes Layton, and are proud and active grandparents.
Faith Trialblazer Honoree
Deputy County Administrator Damika Withers
Damika Withers serves as the Chief Economic Equity and Inclusion Officer in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. In this role, she leads efforts to advance equitable economic opportunities and promote inclusive policies.
Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of Support Services at the Franklin County Office on Aging, overseeing Adult Protective Services and the National Family Caregiver Support Program. She played a key role in various health and human services initiatives, working to enhance program policies and service delivery through a racial equity lens. She was also a member of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners’ first Racial Equity Council.
With 24 years of public service experience, Ms. Withers has worked extensively with vulnerable populations across health and human services and criminal justice. She has facilitated cognitive-behavioral peer groups for incarcerated individuals at the Franklin County Community-Based Correctional Facility. Earlier in her career, she served as a case manager for public assistance programs in four Ohio counties—Geauga, Mahoning, Cuyahoga, and Franklin—before advancing into leadership roles at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (FCDJFS). In those roles, she led teams through change, fostered internal and external collaboration, and worked to address barriers caused by social determinants of health.
Ms. Withers serves on the board of Impact Community Action and American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC) and is an active member of several national organizations, including the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) Equity and Governance Taskforce. She is also a cohort participant in the International City/County Managers Association’s (ICMA) Equity Officers program. Ms. Withers is currently a fellow in the African American Leadership Academy (AALA).
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in Case Management from Kent State University and a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University. Her contributions have been widely recognized—she was named FCDJFS Employee of the Year in 2015, featured in the 16th Edition of Who’s Who in Black Columbus County Spotlight (2019), and honored as 614 Day’s 2024 Capital Commerce Catalyst (2024) and Columbus Business First’s 2025 Diversity Champion
Beyond her professional work, Ms. Withers is a contracted contributing writer for LifeWay Resources and a dedicated community servant. She is a proud wife to her husband Rocci and mother to their two children, Cameron and Kindall.
