When Adell Kimbrough looks at the world, he sees people in need of compassion and guidance. “We all know there are a lot of hurting people out there,” he says. “It’s my belief that it’s my responsibility to help as many people as I can using the talents that God has given to me.” To that end, Adell uses his expertise in flying planes, speaking, and writing to provide guidance to others and empower them to live the lives they have dreamed of.
Adell’s passion for planes started on a remote airstrip in Guatemala in 2016. “I was in a small Cesna, watching the pilot, a pastor, land the plane,” he says. “I realized that I wanted to be able to help fly planes on trips like this, so when I got back to America, I researched how to become a private pilot. The rest, as they say, is history.” Ultimately, Adell says, his goal is to found a private jet charter for pastors.
Adell likes to use his life experiences to help others, which is why he wrote From Passengers to Pilots. He sees a connection between where people fly on airplanes and how we journey through life. “Whether you are a passenger or a pilot determines how you go through life,” Adell explains. “Are you riding in the cabin or in the cockpit? Too many of us settle because we don’t know if we possess the wherewithal to even be a pilot. All that separates you from what you want is a choice to go after it. It’s why some people go after their dreams while too many others give up on them. I ultimately want the world to stop settling for mediocrity.” Adell has also written other books that explore the treasures people can find in themselves when they look to God.
While Adell is a published author, he is also the founder and leader of Prophetic World Group, a Miami-based nonprofit whose programs include a church, college scholarships for kids in smaller cities and poorer communities, and leadership programs in schools. “One of the things I like most about this,” he says, “is that I get to use my public speaking skills. I travel across the country, teaching students about nonviolence and sex-abstinence. I also teach them about what real leadership looks like.” He is passionate about ending bullying in schools. He even talks about human trafficking. He believes in talking about the tough topics and in shaping the next generation to be peaceful and respectful of others.
When he isn’t traveling, Adell is at Prophetic World Group’s church in Detroit, Michigan. “In addition to our services, we offer spiritual advising to celebrities and high profile clients. Mental stability is key for us to operate at the highest level of creation,” Adell believes.
Prophetic World Group is growing steadily. “The pandemic meant that our church could not hold in-person services, of course, so we pivoted and started a virtual dialogue on Facebook called TNC or Thursday Night Church. We had a viewership of 10,000+ in the first month of starting.”
As the pandemic continues, Adell works with dignitaries in the church world. “Their donations have been hit, of course, so I have taught church leaders how to maintain and even heighten their ability to receive virtual donations.”
Adell is thankful for the success he has achieved thus far. “I owe where I am today to thousands of people around the world. Their support has carried me through the challenges I’ve faced in my own life.”
Adell has a special heart for entrepreneurs and is always looking to mentor the next generation. When asked what he would say to them, he laughs a little. “If they want my advice, I’ll give them two words: testicular fortitude. I think you get the point, but in layman’s terms, it means to inwardly possess the courage to conquer the world. If you’ve got that, you’ll accomplish what you set out to do.”
Adell has more to accomplish with Prophetic World Group. “Five years from now, I see us with about nine churches all over the country, and we’re shooting for an annual profit of $1 million. I definitely want us to expand and affect more people. I think we’re on track to doing that, which is really exciting.”
Adell knows that while success has come, it is never guaranteed. “I’ve learned the hard way that I must be water, not a hammer. If I keep going every day, I will get to where I want to be.”
