Long-Time Pastor to Leave Greenwell Springs

by Woody Jenkins

GREENWELL SPRINGS — After 13 years as pastor at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, Dr. Dennis Terry has decided to take up a calling as pastor of a new church in Alabama.  “I felt God was leading me in a new direction, and my wife and I have a peace that we are doing God’s will.”

Rev. Terry has led Greenwell Springs through a period of tremendous growth:

• The church paid off the Education Building;

• Purchased 20 acres and built a beautiful new sanctuary;

• The budget increased from $260,000 a year to $2.7 million;

• Attendance grew from 265 each Sunday to 1,400.

• Membership grew to 3,500.

“I gave it my all,” Rev. Terry said.  “This is a wonderful church and a wonderful community.  I love it very much.  It will be hard to leave, especially since our four children and four grandchildren are here, but I know Greenwell Springs will be blessed and that we will be blessed.  God has great things in store for this church.  I am at peace that this is God’s will for our lives.”

Terry said the church is strong spiritually and financially.  He said the church needs to find the right pastor to carry it to greater heights.  “Love that man and don’t compare him to me.  Love him as much or even more than you have loved me, and follow his leadership.”  He said, “I will come back and hope to find the church is twice the size!”

He said the church’s TV ministry and foreign ministries will continue and that he would be supporting the missions in Latin America.

He said the most difficult thing at Greenwell Springs was having to preside over the funerals of so many young people.  “I walked the cemetery yesterday.  That was very hard.”

He praised the church for all they did for the victims of Katrina and Rita who came to the church.  He smiled to remember the black couple he married in the sanctuary and the lives that were touched.