Bio and Ministry

THE MIRACLE OF GOD'S GRACE

2 CORINTHIANS 4:
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

I am a "bus kid" from Northern Missouri. Although my father is a golf professional and my mother works as an administrative assistant, neither one went to church. They allowed me to get on a bus to go to church. At the age of six, when I was in primary class at Sunday School, I found Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.

The Lord has been so faithful to this "bus kid." I have seen over 40 of my family members saved and have had the privilege of baptizing three generations of my family in water including my 80-year old grandfather. It's HIS grace at work in this earthen vessel. What a wonderful God!

When I was 17 years old I sensed the call of God on my life for full-time dedicated ministry. I had wonderful godly people who served as my pastors for nearly 40 years, Pastor Bob and Olla Morris at Lawson Assembly of God.  Brother Morris opened the pulpit to me at the tender age of 17. Other godly men have also served as mentors and great friends to me in the ministry.  Pastor Gary and Doris Denbow, Christian Chapel Assembly of God in Columbia, Missouri, provided the means for me to see the world through their pulpit every week when I served on his pastoral staff team. My church membership continues to remain at Christian Chapel Assembly of God with this very supportive church family.

As a student, I attended a chapel service at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri where we had a guest missionary evangelist and his wife speak. They were David and Beth Grant. God used this couple to phenomenally speak into my young life. It was long after everyone had left that chapel service around the altars that I had a vision of a young Indian woman. While I was ready to go to India immediately, the doors were not open for me. God is perfect in HIS timing. He had lives He wanted me to touch on this side of the ocean too.

As a staff pastor at Christian Chapel, I had a recurring dream of a large harvest field. I dreamed that the wind of the Spirit was blowing from the South to the North. In the North I saw a coming storm which was about to overtake the field. I knew that God was speaking to me through the dream, but I didn't know what exactly. I shared the dream with friends at Christian Chapel and we tried to see how it fit, but still nothing made sense.

During a General Council meeting of the A/G in Indianapolis, Indiana, again Missionary Evangelist David Grant spoke in the missions service. I knew God was speaking directly to me. Again I went forward to the altar and while seeking the Lord's face sensed the Holy Spirit speak to me in the chambers of my heart, "Terri, I am going to open a door for you that no man can shut."

Pastor Denbow sent me on a missions trip throughout Asia. Brother David Grant invited me to Chennai, India to meet with Pastor David Mohan. After the morning services during tea time, I asked Pastor Mohan what way I could be a blessing in India. He told me, "The women of India need you." He didn't know about my vision in 1984. I knew God was speaking again to me and my meeting with Pastor Mohan was a Holy Ghost appointment.

I flew over to Southern Asia Bible College to meet with Dr. Ivan and Sheila Satyavrata in Bangalore, India. It was after an evening meal with their family when the electricity had gone off (as it always does in India) that I asked Dr. Ivan to describe the landscape of India to me. He began to tell me about the revival and growth of the church happening in the South of India and the many national missionaries going to the North. He also shared with me about the stormy events in Pakistan and Nepal. The language he used was very descriptive of my dream. I began to weep as I realized again that God was speaking and that I had met with Dr. Ivan on that quiet dark night in their living room under Holy Ghost appointment.

It is the miracle of God's grace that He would choose to use me. I count it such a privilege. My friends, there is joy in the journey of God's purposes and plan for your life. I invite you to keep in step with the Spirit of Grace and allow Him to do the same miracle in your life. You will be glad you did!

Click on this link to read Terri's testimony about how Sunday School made a great impact on her life.