Terri Holaday began serving as the part time children’s pastor of the Church of God of Exeter in March of 2005. She began working full time in May of 2006. Prior to becoming the children’s pastor Terri served four years as the chair person on the Sunday School Board and also taught Sunday School.

 Terri was raised in the church all her life, attending Sunday school, and youth groups. But due to some circumstances in her life in her mid 20s her relationship with the Lord became numb. Going to church was something you did on Sunday. It was the birth of her daughter Meghan in 1987 that changed her life. Terri realized that a decision needed to be made as to who would be running her life and that would determine the path her life would now take. If she decided to run her own life and call all the shots than her life was going to take a completely different path than the one God had planed for her. The path she was on was going no where. So she turned her trust and faith back to God and sought Him out for her direction. Sunday mornings now had a purpose. 

In September of 1995 Terri’s life would forever change. After praying for many years for a godly man for her and Meghan the Lord brought Richard into their lives. Two weeks after they were married Richard suffered a major heart attack and they were on their way for his second open heart surgery. Scared to death and wondering why all this was happening Terri turned what little strength she felt she had and totally surrendered herself and her family to the Lord. Keeping focused on what the bible tells us in  Joshua 1:9 “here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the Lord your God. I will be with you everywhere you go.”

The Lord did give Terri the strength she needed and still continues to give her, her strength in life’s ups and downs. She looks back on her life and sees where He has even  had to carry her at times.  

In surrendering their lives to Him on December of 1996 Meghan committed herself to the Lord and Terri and Richard recommitted themselves to the Lord as a family through baptism. 

Terri and Richard were married on September 16^th of 1995. They have a daughter Meghan who is 19 years old and in her second year at the Collage of the Sequoias studying to become a veterinarian. Richard and Terri raise 17 acres of oranges in Yokohl Valley. And have way too many goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and birds. The Holaday Zoo. 

Terri enjoys cross stitching, going out to dinner and movies, cooking, and traveling and is committed to sharing the love of Jesus Christ to the children of Exeter.  

Terri explains her philosophy of leadership this way: 

          “I love the way God uses each and every one of us, the way He uses our strengths, our circumstances, talents and our gifts for His glory. We are all special and unique. I like to encourage people to seek out and find their gifts and than use those gifts according to Gods calling. . I feel what God is looking for from each one of us is that we take our lives one day at a time- and in each one of those days we do the best and be the best that we can at the jobs and task that God is calling us to do for Him.

I feel so blessed that God has called me to children’s ministry. There is nothing more exciting than sharing and teaching Gods word to these children.”