Do you see those boxes of facial tissue at both ends of each pew in the St. John’s MCC Sanctuary? We try to make sure they are never more than a few arm lengths away from us – especially when Terri Steed is preaching. We have had a “Tissue Ministry” at St. John’s for a long time, but it has never been needed more than when Pastor Terri preaches.

You see, Terri was one of the women who earned her Master of Divinity degree with Languages from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in nearby Wake Forest in 1991 – a time shortly after power-hungry religious politicians first took over the school. She was one of hundreds of gifted and Spirit-filled women who were told that they could only serve a church as a pastor’s wife or children’s Sunday school teacher. There was absolutely no way that she would be granted a place in any church’s pulpit. That didn’t make any sense to Terri, because she knew she still loved Jesus and Jesus still loved her.

Terri grew up in a progressive and very active Southern Baptist church in northeast Charlotte called Midwood. Active as an infant because her parents were so involved, Terri became a vibrant part of the youth program and everyone liked her.

She felt a call to do something more in the effort of spreading the Gospel, so she enrolled with a full scholarship at Southeastern Seminary after her college education in Religion at Mars Hill, a Baptist college in western North Carolina. Since she wasn’t allowed to serve a church, Terri became quite an expert in the eye care field – working with one of the Triangle’s largest eye care providers.

On the third Sunday in November of 1994, someone invited her to see what was going on at St. John’s MCC. She summoned all her courage and walked inside the church’s doors. You know what happened then. She fell in love with the place, and she fell even more in love with Jesus.

Over the years and just as she did at Midwood, Terri became more and more involved in the life and work of St. John’s. She established and taught the original Topics at Ten Sunday morning bible study class beginning in January 1998. Terri was a noted facilitator in that class who was never afraid to let silence fill the room when people needed to think. During those classes, Terri continued to feel a tug from the Holy Spirit who continued to tell her, “There is more for you, my child!”

Former St. John’s Pastor Wayne Lindsey asked Terri to preach for the very first time on April 18, 1998.

When we needed a worship coordinator to help organize our worship services, Terri was a logical choice. She knew everybody and actually enjoyed recruiting people to serve. Even then, the Spirit kept saying, “You should be on the other side of a pulpit, Terri. You have a LOT to say for Me!”

Terri was given more opportunities to share her story, and more and more of her trusted friends affirmed her calling to pastor and preach. She finally gave in and admitted her calling to the Gospel ministry. On the first Sunday of 2005, she turned over her Topics duties to me – of all people, since I was such an infant in my spiritual journey at the time – and began exploring that call.

Terri did her Administration training at St. John’s and got more experience in preaching and ministry during her internship at New Life MCC of Hampton Roads in Virginia from October of 2005 through June of 2007.

During the summer of 2007 and in obedience to God’s demand, St. John’s MCC ordained Terri as a Minister of the Gospel through Metropolitan Community Churches. Since September of that year, the Rev. Terri S. Steed has served as Senior Pastor for MCC Charleston in South Carolina.

Scenes from Terri Steed’s Ordination at St. John’s MCC
(Click on above images to enlarge.)

When you come to the Praise Service that is a part of our Revival and Spiritual Awakening Weekend on Friday, June 18th, you’ll see Pastor Terri seated very near a box of tissue. Her gratitude for God’s love and power in her life will flow from her inmost being.

When you fellowship with Terri and all her friends at the Bowling Party at AMF Pleasant Valley Lanes on the following Saturday afternoon at 1:00, you’ll see how much fun a healthy life of loving Jesus can be. (Click here for advance ticket information and more details.)

When you come to the Healing Service that Saturday evening at 7:00 in the St. John’s MCC Sanctuary, you’ll feel God’s love pouring out through Pastor Terri directly into you.

And when you hear her story and God’s amazing message to us at the 8:45 and 11:00 Worship Services on Sunday morning, June 20th, you’ll know – without any doubt – why we have a Tissue Ministry at St. John’s. We will also have a Potluck Lunch immediately following the 11:00 service.

All of Pastor Terri’s friends will be there. We hope you’ll be there too. Don’t miss it. Invite a friend!

Welcome home, Terri!

Boxes of facial tissue are never too far away from anyone who worships at St. John’s.	Normally, one box of tissue sits on the aisle side of the front pew....
(Click on above images for closer views.)

To make sure ALL of Terri’s friends know about her homecoming this month,
we encourage you to email a link to this page to any friend who may not have heard.
Please click on the envelope icon  at the top of this article to send the link to them.