Rev. Dennis Terry Bids Farewell to Greenwell Springs Baptist

Pastor to Move To New Church In N. Alabama

by Woody Jenkins, Editor

CENTRAL — Dr. Dennis Terry, pastor at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, said his farewell to church members in a packed sanctuary Sunday morning.  The nationally-known minister is leaving to lead a new church in northern Alabama after serving 13 years in Central.

Former Rep. Tony Perkins, a member of the church who will preach the next two Sundays, said Brother Dennis has made a tremendous difference at Greenwell Springs.

“Our family came to Greenwell Springs about a year after he became pastor here,” Perkins said.

“He’s led the church through tremendous growth.  When he came, the church had 300 or 400 on Sunday morning, and now it has 1,200.”

Asked what Terry’s key strengths have been, Perkins said, “He’s a powerful preacher, and his heart breaks for missions and evangelism, perhaps more than any pastor I’ve seen.  He pastors this church as though it were a small country church, always attending to the needs of the members — visiting the sick in hospitals and officiating at weddings and funerals.”

“He’s a great preacher.  People want to hear the truth, and he’s challenged people to do the hard things.  Lives have been changed here, not by taking away from others but by reaching new people.  He baptizes more than 125 people every year.  He and I are close friends.  We communicate every week.  At Greenwell Springs, we will miss him very much.  But God has a plan for this church, and we will continue our mission.”

Perkins said a search committee will be formed to find a new pastor.