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Reverend Terry Leonard Henry is the senior pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is the son of Cora Lee and the late Willie H. Henry of Ivanhoe, North Carolina. At the age of 12, he wrote his mother a letter and told her he believed God was calling him to preach. Ten years later, after he preached his initial sermon at his home church, Royals Chapel Missionary Baptist in Ivanhoe, North Carolina, his mother presented him with that letter. Pastor Henry received his license and ordination under the pastorate of the late Reverend R. W. Lowe.

Pastor Henry came to Macedonia in 1988 to preach with no idea he would later serve as the pastor. Under his pastorate, Macedonia has prospered. The church membership has quadrupled and continues to grow weekly. In 1998, a new sanctuary was erected, and two years later, the sanctuary was expanded to meet the needs of one of Wilmington’s fasting growing churches. By the grace of God, Macedonia held a Groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, November 23, 2008 for a new worship center and edifice with a seating capacity of 2,000. To God Be the Glory!

A native of Ivanhoe, North Carolina, Pastor Henry started his college education at North Carolina State University. He is a graduate of International Seminary in Plymouth, Florida where he earned a B.A. degree in Religious Education. Pastor Henry earned his Master of Arts degree in Christian Education from Campbell University’s School of Divinity in Buies Creek, North Carolina. He is continuing his studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to earn his Doctorate degree. In May of 2010, he became an official doctoral candidate for the Doctorate of Ministry Degree in May 2011. His thesis, “Ministers can be taught to prepare and preach sermons grounded in the text by rigorously seeking authorial intent.” His proposal will yield a basic exegesis guide to be used by preachers who have not had opportunities to pursue theological education.

In October 2004, he was elected Moderator of the Middle District Missionary Baptist Association. He was reelected to serve a second term in 2008. As the moderator, he coordinates Associational training and church polity for sixty-three affiliate churches. As moderator, he is also a member of the general board with the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc. He has served as a Chaplain Associate at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Pastor Henry’s ministry has taken him on pilgrimages to various countries:

2001: He led a group to Israel to trace the footsteps of Jesus. While there, he was baptized in the Jordan River. He also baptized may of our members in the Jordan River
2003: He traveled overseas with Campbell University to trace the route of Martin Luther during the Great Reformation. He visited Germany, Prague, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland
2005: He traveled to Nairobi Africa to witness the dedication of a children’s orphanage in memory of one of our late members, Sister Cynthia Tyson. While there, Pastor Henry preached at a morning worship service.

2007: He led an entourage of 65 to Athens, Greece. On that tour, they traced the steps of the Apostle Paul and visited (among many other places) the isle of Patmos where John wrote the book of Revelation.

In December 2007, Pastor Henry was invited to Kakamega, Africa (just outside of Kenya) by Bishop Nicholas Olumasai to preach and teach at their annual Word World Conference. The theme of the conference was, “For the Word of God is Quick and Powerful”. Pastor Henry took a team of our ministers-in-fellowship with him. While in Kakamega, Pastor Henry preached daily. It was commented that his sermons and teachings were “strong and life changing”. A touching moment in the journey, Pastor Henry said, was when the people told him, “Pastor, salvation is all we have”!

If it is the Lord’s will, in March of 2010, he will lead a group of 48 to Paris France and the Holy Land.

In addition to his travels he serves on several boards and committees: In January 2007, Pastor Henry was selected to serve on the Campbell University Chapel Campaign Committee. Click here to read more about the University’s announcement of their long awaited chapel and sanctuary.

In October 2008, Pastor Henry was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Public Health Foundation of New Hanover County, Inc. The mission of this foundation is to strengthen public health through partnerships that build awareness and promote actions to address unmet needs. Click here to visit the foundation’s website.

Reverend Henry is married to the former Jacqueline Bell of Mount Olive, North Carolina. They reside in Wilmington, North Carolina. and have two children: O’Bryant and Bethany Grace.

At Macedonia, God has blessed us with not only a Spiritual Leader but also a visionary in Pastor Henry. His ministry has taught us that, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2: 26). We pray for God’s continued blessings on Macedonia. To God be the glory – great things He hath done!!

God has richly blessed Pastor Henry, but he continues to acknowledge with amazement what God can do with recycled goods.

I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Proverbs 22:6 reads, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (KJV).

While working with youth in different capacities for approximately ten years, I have found Proverbs 22: 6 to be my motto and a key Spiritual basis for youth. As Macedonia's Youth Director, my goal is to enhance the Spiritual growth of our future - our youth - through Bible study, prayer, mission trips and social activities that will build their social and personal skills. Current youth ministries of Macedonia include Sunday School, youth Bible Study, the Missionary Youth Department and the Praise Dancers. Youth worship services are held on first, second and third Sundays at 11 a.m.

With direction from the Head of my life, Jesus Christ, along with Pastor Henry, the parents and other ministries in the church working together as one body, we can help our youth build a Spiritual foundation that will allow them to overcome some of life's most difficult challenges.

Activities for the youth include:

• Bible Study - Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
• Sunday School - Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
• Vacation Bible School (evening sessions will be held July 14-18, 2008)
• Youth Worship Services (first, second and third Sundays at 11 a.m.)
• "Souled Out" Programs
• J.A.M. Sessions (Jesus And Me)
• Back to School Workshops
• Retreats
• College Tours
• Educational Excursions
• Christian Fellowships
• Outreach Projects

Families are welcomed in our worship services. A nursery is available every Sunday for the 11 a.m. worship service.

Pray for me as I continue to allow God to use me in His ministry.

Sister Bethea earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Elizabeth City State University. She is the daughter of Deacon and Mrs. Arlington and Renee Cox of Wilmington.

God truly gave me the gifts of teaching and shepherding. I have been using these gifts for the past twelve years in a mostly secular capacity of teaching at the elementary and community college level. I am now being called by God to use my gift of teaching to "teach His word." I have a passion for working with children and adults who have the desire to learn. I pray to be a servant of God everyday and to let His light shine through all that I do.

I lean constantly on God's promises in Proverbs 3: 5-6 and 13-14: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding. For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, and her wages are better than gold.

I am on a seeking journey of what God says and how I can share it. I am so excited to be serving as the Christian Education Director for Macedonia. My goals are to prayerfully seek curriculum for all of our members that help us to grow in God's wisdom and to increase our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters. I will work to train our teachers in how best to utilize our curriculum to bring other souls to salvation. I am looking forward to enhancing the ministries we offer and to hopefully offering more educational/study ministries.

Our Christian Education program includes

• Sunday Morning Bible Study- Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
• Bible Study Basics - Mondays at 7 p.m.
• Noon Bible Study - Wednesdays at 12 Noon
• Youth Bible Study - Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
• Evening Bible Study - Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
• Our Women's Bible Study is "From Despair to Delight, A Study of the Psalms". We meet on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:30 p.m..
• Our Men's Bible Study is "Men of Honor". They meet on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.  A Bible Study for young adults will be offered in the future.
• Adult Spiritual Retreats

I am originally from Monroe, Louisiana and have a daughter, Camille and a son, Daniel. My journey to North Carolina is by way of California - although I have lived in both Wilmington and Charlotte previously. I have a Bachelors degree in Political Science from LSU and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and Development from Mills College. I have worked in both teaching and administrative capacities with children and adults. For the past four years, I have been intensively studying God’s word.

I praise God everyday for all of the wonderful gifts and blessings He is showering upon me.

The Lord has anointed me to love and serve His people. I have assisted the church since the beginning of the pastorate of our current Pastor, Reverend Terry Henry. Unofficially, I have served since the day I learned to typed. My tasks vary from day to day. This ministry is a joy because it allows me to not only do the work that is required to keep the church operating smoothly, it affords me opportunities to minister, pray, and fellowship with others.

God is doing a wonderful work at and within Macedonia. Our rapid membership growth has changed my direction of prayer, goals and hopes for the health of our church's administration. God is fulfilling His vision to automate our administrative services through blessings of:

• Volunteer Coordinators
• Birthday Cards Correspondent - Phyllis Boney
• Scripture Reader Coordinator - Wilma Brown
• New Member Records Coordinator - Julia Bibbs
• New Member Liaisons - Beverly Dixon & Shirley Weeden
• New Members Photographers - Cora Leonard & Luzzetta Bradley

In addition, He has blessed us with the vision and resources to streamline our administrative processes in order to effectively minister to His people.

Along with the role of Office Administrator, I also serve as the coordinator of our Christian Women Fellowship. Click here and see the wonderful vision of comradeship the Lord has given the women of Macedonia.

Another area of my ministry is teaching part time in Computer Information Systems and Office Systems Technology at Cape Fear Community College. In this role, I am blessed to reach and teach God's people of all ages, backgrounds and religions.

Personally, I am married to the Reverend Deacon Russell C. West, Jr., who is an ordained Deacon of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina. Education-wise, I hold a Master degree in Business Administration and a graduate certificate in Distance Learning from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

With all the wonderful opportunities of ministry God has entrusted to me, what more can I ask for?

What a mighty God we serve!