Worship Sundays at 9 am
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Terri was born in Pax River back when her dad was stationed here with the Navy. They left for a while for other duty stations, but ultimately returned to Pax and call it home now. Her husband Billy’s dad was also Navy, and they bumped into each other canoeing on base as young teenagers and began their friendship. Terri has such an amazing, adventurous spirit and during her junior year of high school she set off to be an exchange student in Chile! By her senior year, she was enrolled in a local college part time and always up for adventure. Terri struck out to attend Shepherd College in West Virginia after graduation. Three days before Billy joined the Army in 1976, the highschool sweethearts married and she returned to St. Mary’s College briefly before following him to a North Carolina duty station where she attended Fayetteville State for 1 year. Always up for a challenge, Terri managed to stay in school AND have 2 kids (Will & Mary) before her husband got unaccompanied orders to Germany and she returned back to Pax to finish up college back at St. Mary’s, getting her Bachelors in History in 1980! This woman was born with determination. More duty stations and 2 more kids later, the entire family set off on orders back to Germany for a 5-year adventure. Terri boarded the flight with Will, age 8, Mary 6, Elizabeth 2, and a new baby, Steven. Her husband left the service in 1990, and Terri, believing everyone should serve their country, took her turn and enlisted in 1991. What was intended to be 1 enlistment became a 13 year passion and career, including a stint near the Iraq border.
Amidst the many moves, Terri was searching for a church home. Both she and her husband were raised in multi faith homes and he was Catholic. While in North Carolina they were searching for a church home and Terri felt led to try this Lutheran church that was welcoming and felt like home. Once in Germany, they again found a home with an Evangelical Lutheran church and Terri learned her first German through the church. Once back in Pax, she heard about a new Lutheran church that was recently founded…. it was Good Samaritan, and she’s been with us ever since! Terri is currently serving on council, but her call to mission and serving reaches far into the community and the world. On top of her military service, Terri has always been involved serving locally with Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts, as well as the VFW. She has found a way to reach into the secular world and bring her loving spirit and light into so many organizations, like the Lexington Park Community Association, helping orchestrate a geocaching trail that brings people from all walks together.
Never one to slow down after retirement, Terri began a new journey as an Uber driver. Some passengers are quiet and others want to talk; some she meets once and others are regulars. She has found that she can provide a judgment-free, safe place for people to share what’s on their minds and hearts and she has the opportunity to simply listen and support and encourage them on their journey. A few passengers she has also had the opportunity to share her faith with and even invite them to church. It’s exciting because she never knows where the conversations and relationships built will lead. For a few special passengers, she has been an instrument of God to guide their path with ideas and encouragement, helping them solve a personal problem or find employment. Terri is such a beautiful example of listening to God’s call and being a light in the world throughout her life. We are blessed to have you as a part of our community!