You will not have to know Bro. Terry long to hear about "his Helen."  He came to faith in Christ August 26, 1969, as a result of the personal ministry of Helen Lewis, "the mother of a friend," in Laurel, Mississippi.  Helen's spirit of love, joy, and peace captivated Terry, having been reared in a family gripped by alcoholism.  Today, you can learn much about hope, peace, and strength from what Christ did for him in these early challenging years.

Terry's wife Ann has been his greatest partner in ministry for over three decades.  You may not find two more different people, but he would say, "Viva la difference!"  God graced their marriage with three beautiful daughters:  Allison, Andrea, and Ashley.  You will often see a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes when he says, "My girls..."  New joys have sprouted in the family garden:  Allison's husband Cliff McDaniel and their daughters Madeleine and MacKenzie, and Ashley's husband Neal Duplantis and their son Landon.  As you see Bro. Terry move about the campus, you will often find him packin' any number of grandchildren.

Some fun facts about our pastor:

• WHAT'S ON YOUR iPOD RIGHT NOW?  I do not have an iPod, and my CD player has a CD stuck in it.  So when I listen to music, 80% of the time it is 96.1 Soft Rock (sappy love songs), 10% of the time country music, and 10% of the time KLOVE (Christian music station). 
  
• WHAT BOOK IS ON YOUR BESIDE TABLE?  The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics.  
  
• WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE HYMN?  "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"  WORSHIP CHORUS?  "Days of Elijah"  
  
• WHAT MAGAZINE DO YOU LOOK FORWARD THE MOST TO RECEIVING EACH MONTH?  Runner's World.

It seems Bro. Terry is always studying something new.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from William Carey College, the Master of Divinity and later the Master of Theology degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  He also earned the Doctor of Ministry degree and is in the process of completing the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the same school.  Preaching and teaching are two of his passions.  Bro. Terry has taught as a member of the adjunctive faculty of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  "Shhhhh," he dreams of going to medical school too, he just hasn't talked to Ann about it yet.

Bro. Terry has the heart of a shepherd.  You will often hear him say, "My people," or "My friends."  You will soon find out there is a place for you in his heart and in our family of faith.  If you call on him, he is almost always right there.

However, what most people say about Bro. Terry is, "Oh, you're that runnin' preacher."  Terry is an avid runner and has been for twenty-five years.

Having that direction set an early age helped him to know the path for his education. Ernest graduated from Louisiana College in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Education. In 1988 he graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Religious Education. Ernest is presently pursuing his Doctorate of Educational Ministry degree at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.

Earning his Religious Education and Social Work degree from Louisiana College, Deloy served at Sunlight Baptist Church in Franklinton.  Soon after he became a director with the Continental Singers and Orchestra, and also the musical director for the musical drama troupe The Jeremiah People, both based out of Ventura, CA. 

After having toured throughout North America, Europe, Africa, and other places around the globe with these ministries, Deloy worked as a counselor for St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while leading worship at conferences, retreats, and revivals throughout the Oklahoma/Texas/Louisiana region.  In 1997 Deloy began serving at Calvary Baptist Church in Tulsa, and 5 years later was called to First Baptist Church of Oak Grove, Missouri.  Deloy joined the staff here at Amite Baptist Church in 2001.

A few interesting things about Bro. D:

• WHAT'S ON YOUR iPOD RIGHT NOW?  Carrie Underwood, Easter drama music, Chris Tomlin, Cynthia Clawson, Nickle Creek, Jim Brickman, "FireFlies" by Owl City.
  
• WHAT BOOK IS ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE?  Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton, a non-fictional account of the first US armed services involvement in Afghanistan after 9/11.
  
• WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE HYMN?  "My Lord Is Near Me All the Time" - When my daughters were little I would sing this to them during thunderstorms.  WORSHIP CHORUS?  "Today Is the Day" (by Lincoln Brewster) - Makes me smile and sing loud!
  
• WHAT MAGAZINE DO YOU LOOK FORWARD THE MOST TO RECEIVING EACH MONTH?  Handyman, Consumer Reports and Louisiana Gardener.

Deloy is married to the former Krisa Jackson, originally from Borger, Texas, and a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University.  Krisa is an Occupational Therapist and is Deloy's partner in ministry, having a heart and passion for worship as he does.  They have two active daughters, Gracie and Emma, a schnoodle named Pepper Ann, a mutt named Zeke, a cat named Esther-the-Boy-Cat, as well as a variety of other short-term critters that live in and around their home Dragonfly Acre.

Deloy's life verse is Psalm 139:8-10:  "If I ascend into the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Hades, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of morning and dwell in the remotest parts of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me."

• What's on Frank's ipod?- Any music by Michael John Clement or Chris Tomlin.  "New Creation" by Leeland- Their LOVE album. "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley. Bet you did not know Frank is a closet Elvis Presley fan!
• What book is on the nighstand?- Good grief. Too many. But to name one or two. "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge and "Walt Disney" the biography.
• What is Frank's life verse?  Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• What is Frank's favorite hymn?  "And Can It Be that I Should Gain" written by Charles Wesley in 1739 based on Acts 16:26.
• What makes Frank smile?  Watching kids use their talents for God and giving of themselves to other kids.
• How many pets does Bro. Frank have? Too many! LOL! His family has Chewy(Chewbacca), a little bitty Chinese crested powder puff who is now 7 in people years, good ole Cracker, a beautiful white with gray spots kitty, who now is 17 years old, the beautiful Boo-Boo Kitty, who is a solid gray long hair kitty, and last but not least the talented and unfriendly Mr. 'T', a cute but not very affectionate hedgehog.  So, kids if you want to visit a petting zoo come on over!!!

She is also actively involved in all week-to-week children's programs as well as the music teacher for the Amite Christian School.

 I am a native of Mesquite, Texas. I have been happily married for 16 years to my husband, Chad. I am a mother of teenage twins Zachary and Analyse. I have been employed at AmiteChristianSchool and Daycare for 6 years. And I have worked in many positions while at ACS&D. I have been a toddler teacher, nursery supervisor, and currently I am Assistant Preschool and Daycare Director.