By Corey J. Allen
Reporter Staff

Saturday afternoon, some pedestrians, passengers and drivers wondered what was going on at 146-154 Norfolk St., as if they have not been getting the word on the Boston style and religious wires.

Prayer Tower Apostolic Church, or PTAC, dedicated a newly built office and beauty salon building with a two-and-a-half hour service, a ribbon cutting and an open house on June 24th.

"For a long time, Dorchester has been branded with a certain stigma," said Elder Antoine Montgomery Sr., Pastor of PTAC. "And we are trying to break that."

There was a march intended to take place from the Prayer Room on Southern Ave. to PTAC, which would have been about a three minute walk, according to Elder Antoine Montgomery, Sr.

Despite the absence of the walk, it was still a sight to see. Congregations from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Jamaica, New Jersey and elsewhere attended the event, and had coach buses lined up on Norfolk Street. The dedication served another purpose; the church's 6th Pastoral Anniversary of Elder Antoine and Lady Sonja Montgomery, Sr.

"We are not visitors, we are family," said Evangelist Sylvia Williston, a member of the First United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) out of Brooklyn. Although in different states, the churches are united under Presiding Prelate of the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic), Bishop Monroe Saunders, Jr., D.M.

"He [Bishop Saunders] will not pimp you," said Bishop Lewis L. Stokes, 2nd Asst. Presiding Bishop of the church. "He respects his flock and fears God."

 After the service, which was attended by approximately 250 people, including City Councillor Charles Yancey, members were allowed to see the result of their seed planting and tilling.

PTAC Styling Co. is a fully furnished beauty salon, managed by Sharonda "Shawn" Lesley. The hardwood floors lead to a receptionist and shelves with products such as shampoo, conditioner, Mary Kay perfumes and hair coloring kits.

Behind the shelves, a waiting area and a coffee table with magazines such as Entertainment Weekly, Jet, Southern Living, Marriage Partners, Essence, Christian Today,Time and Black Enterprise.

"I wanted to make sure that we produce a Godly environment," said Montgomery. "So you won't find any Howard Stern, or anything crazy like that out there."

Inside of the salon, each of the 7 stylist stations has a 15-inch screen TV, as does the manicure/pedicure treatment area, while the waiting area has 2 32" TVs, all equipped with Direct TV.

The mahogany cabinets with marble tops and silver handles are the finishing touch to the elegant salon, which is unique.

"You can go anywhere, and you won't find a salon like this," said Montgomery. "We took a lot of time and money to make the salon what it is."

PTAC and Elder Montgomery are looking forward to opening up an after school program in September, PTAC Academy of Excellence. In the future, when land across the street is developed, Pastor Montgomery plans to open up a fitness center and a laundry mat, with discounts for church members and their families.

"We really want to make a safe community," said Montgomery. "A lot of churches are just concerned with the soul. The soul is the most important thing to be concerned about, but you also have to be concerned about the total man.

"We want to be a beacon in the community so that when people come, they say, 'Look what God has done for them.'"