About Me

Hi! I'm Terri

I grew up in a small rural community in Upstate New York. As a teenager, I felt a distinct calling into full-time ministry. That calling led me to earn my Bachelor’s degree from an accredited Bible college and later attend seminary.

For 37 of the 38 years that my husband, Dan, and I have been married, we have walked hand-in-hand in full-time ministry. Together, we have served across a beautiful spectrum of ministry landscapes—from the frontlines of inner-city ministry and then into church planting and now leading an established church right here in Western New York. I am licensed, consecrated, and ordained with The Christian & Missionary Alliance.

A Journey of Belonging and Broken Molds

Throughout my decades of service, my core objective has always been to equip, encourage, and elevate others. Having spent many of my own formative years navigating a sense of not truly belonging, God transformed that personal challenge into a professional gift: a profound commitment to encouragement. I am deeply driven to cultivate safe, welcoming spaces where leaders can find anchoring and connection, be heard, and experience authentic spiritual progression.

God has intentionally utilized every season of my life to shape me for strategic kingdom impact. I vividly remember participating in a city business leadership program at 25 years old and wondering how my ministry calling fit into that corporate environment. Today, I see how every single experience was foundational preparation. God masterfully leverages our unique personalities, gifts, and experiences to position us for influence far beyond what we could orchestrate on our own.

I am a Certified Coach in The Realife Process® and I use a proven, faith-integrated framework to help you align your daily rhythms, discover your unique design, and manage your capacity so you can live and lead from the overflow.

Leading from Experience: From Local to Global

Today, my journey has led me to a diverse, multi-layered calling of leadership. Besides my writing and speaking ministry, I currently wear several leadership hats that allow me to live out my passion for equipping others:

Local Church: I serve right here at home as the Disciplemaking Ministries Director at our local church.
Regional Impact: I serve as the Director of Women's Ministries for the Northeastern District of the C&MA, serving and supporting over 74 churches.
National & Global Influence: I sit on our denomination's National Women's Ministry Team and the Alliance World Fellowship Women's Ministry Leadership Team, where I chair the Leadership Committee to serve women globally.

A Heart for the Word, Writing, and Speaking

I have always had a deep love for the Word of God and a passion for teaching it. I am incredibly thankful for the speaking opportunities I have been given, and I work intentionally to present God's Word in an accurate, engaging, and life-giving way.

When I write and speak, I share from the heart the real lessons I have learned in my Christian walk and the ways the Lord is dealing with me. I don’t pretend to have all the answers—I struggle like we all do. Because of this, my coaching style is relational, compassionate, and deeply collaborative. I don't coach from a pedestal; I walk alongside you as a peer, creating a safe, non-judgmental space where we can honestly look at your leadership challenges and your soul's health together.

Writing is such an intrinsic part of who I am that I truly cannot imagine not being able to express myself in this way. When you read my words, hear me speak, or step into a coaching session with me, you are getting an honest, authentic partner who is actively learning and leading in the trenches of daily life right alongside you.

Why I Founded Encouraging Deep Roots

This realization is why I started Encouraging Deep Roots. My mission is to cultivate deep spiritual roots in faith-driven leaders, empowering you to lead with resilience, integrity, and joy—whether you are leading a church staff or navigating the marketplace.Through intentional spiritual formation and practical leadership coaching, I provide a safe space and strategic tools you need to anchor your soul deeply in Christ. Together, we will ensure that your private walk with God fuels your public calling, helping you weather the unique storms of leadership and live out your faith from a place of healthy, lasting overflow.

About Me

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