First, I would like to thank you for visiting my website. My name is Terry Ivy. I was born in 1962 in Meridian, MS. I grew up in a non-Christian home and was turned off by much of what I saw in the ‘church world.’ I came to Christ in August of 1980 while driving a truck on a highway and contemplating suicide. Because of my ungodliness and rebellion I was at the end of my desire to live any longer. By His grace, the Lord intervened and arrested my heart, convicting me of my lost and sinful condition. I repented of my sins and by faith surrendered my heart to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It was the greatest day of my life! Instantly there was a love in my heart for God, His Word, my fellow man and the Lord’s Church.
After being regenerated in Christ, I immediately knew the Lord’s calling into ministry and I surrendered to that call. I began what would be a five year preparation time before entering into Christian ministry. (Even though I witnessed to everyone who would listen and spoke at youth retreats.) During this time, in 1983, I married my high school sweetheart, Susanne. She was actually the first person I was honored to lead to Christ. We have three wonderful grown boys: Joshua (born 1987), Joseph (born 1989) and Joel (born 1992). Rearing them and watching them come to saving faith in Jesus was certainly the highlight of our marriage. Here is the family the Lord has blessed me with. This was taken on my 48 birthday in June 2010.
Standing L to R: Joshua, Susanne, Joel and Joseph.
In 1985 I entered into full time Christian ministry. I pastored a rural church for several years. Through the years, I have spoken across denominational lines from Missouri, the deep South and across to North Carolina, holding revival meetings and speaking on various topics relating to the Christian life. These include Baptist, Methodist, Independent, Full Gospel and Wesleyan churches. Also, I have been part of house churches, taught on radio, spoken to hospital and cancer survivor groups.
Presently, I serve as one of the Elders/Pastors at New Beginning Christian Fellowship in Meridian, MS. The church is a small multi-ethnic congregation and am one of the co-planters. I am a survivor of cancer; diagnosed in 2008 and after much prayer, chemotherapy and radiation, I have been cancer free since November 2008. PTL! Though my physical body took a heavy toll, the Lord’s grace during those couple of years was overwhelming. I call the time “painfully precious.” And though I have some permanent side effects from the harsh treatment regime, it presses me to look to the Lord’s grace for my strength…for this I am thankful!
Also, I am founder of PROJECT INDIA, a ministry of planting churches in unreached rural villages in India. Through this ministry, we work interdependently with indigenous missionaries and pastors to help train, support and mentor church planters. We are targeting areas with a total of over 800 villages that have no believers or churches. We have planted 42 churches thus far, 19 of these coming from December of 2011 to Februray of 2012. This was a result of our Church Planters Conference we held in November of ’11. We have seen 760 come to Christ and become part of these new church plants in the first 4 months of 2012. We also have one day conferences for our church planters and wives to provide support, encouragement and further training. We have an Orphanage in one of the villages as a result of a deadly flood which hit one of the villages and killed their parents. You can read about that here.
Over the years, I have authored several books and booklets dealing with needful areas within the Church. These include the topics of Biblical Church Government, The 5-fold Ministry, Leadership Plurality, Christian Discernment, Prayer, Restorative Church Discipline, etc. Presently, I am working on several other books, including a 52 week devotional to help those suffering through physical affliction. (Birthed out of my journey through cancer.)
I long to help believers and leaders become grounded in the deeper life and fulfill their call and ministry. I am not a ‘micro management’ or ‘there is only one model’ type of guy. I strongly believe that as we allow the Lord to take us deeper into His Holiness and Heart, that His Spirit will move and direct us into the dynamics which may be unique and necessary for our target people group. I am available to travel and speak at various venues, including churches, leadership retreats, conferences and leadership training meetings. I offer my experience to help other leaders and churches develop into their ministry potential. See the Helping/Speaking and the Contact page for more info.
Because of His Grace,
Terry
