Hello! I am Teri Iverson and I am very excited to be the new Vocations Ministry Coordinator! I can look back and see all the ways God has been forming me in preparation for answering this call (God’s great that way!). Grab a cup of coffee and find a comfy chair before proceeding…it might be a little long!
I grew up in Valley City, ND (yes…people actually live there!) and graduated from high school in 1987. I was brought up in the Lutheran Church and was very active in my faith all through elementary and high school. I served as a Lector, usher, Choir member, youth group president, VBS helper and more. If there was a potluck (and in the Lutheran church there were many) we were not only there, we always helped clean up. My mom taught me at an early age that service isn’t something we do…it’s a part of who we are. I was also very involved in SEARCH…a Catholic peer-led retreat program. It was very influential in my faith journey and where I first felt stirrings about joining the Catholic Church. The more I learned, the more I was enamored. In fact, I chose my college, Concordia College (a private Lutheran liberal arts college) in hopes it would “cure” me of wanting to become Catholic. It did not, and I completed RCIA and joined the Church at the Easter Vigil in 1989. I graduated in 1991 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Mass Communications (I’ve been an overachiever my entire life) and had planned to go on to become a Therapist, but alas, God had other plans like He so often does.
I was called to youth ministry and after attending an intensive 8 week training course with Tentmaker’s Youth Ministry, I began that call in Grafton, ND. For the next 30 years (minus a year and a half foray into the legal field that I did NOT enjoy), I ministered to youth in 4 parishes (St. John the Evangelist in Grafton, ND, St. Joseph in Moorhead, MN, St. Benedict of Wild Rice in Horace, ND and St. John the Baptist in Tipp City). It was a fabulous 30 years and I enjoyed so much of ministry…they were very busy years and through it all, I developed a great love for service. My favorite time of year were the summers as they were filled with service opportunities. I took the high school on a mission trip, the middle schoolers on a mission trip, served as a Program Director for 2-3 weeks for others attending mission trips with Young Neighbors In Action, and ended the summer directing a service camp for upper elementary students in my parish. I loved watching all the students grow in their faith and realizing how fortunate they are.
While working at St. John’s in Tipp, I also worked at a local running store part-time. The owner had been “after me” to take a role as the Store Manager for quite a while and with Beacons of Light and the reconfiguration of the family of parishes, it seemed like the right time to exit ministry. And so I did and for the past 1.5 years, I managed the running store. It wasn’t long though, before I felt stirrings again. I missed ministry…I missed being surrounded by faith-filled people and most of all, I missed feeling like I was making a difference. I knew I would be very selective in what I pursued and so I prayed. I prayed for God to make the path clear…I prayed for the Holy Spirit to lead me where it was I was supposed to go…and I prayed to have the courage to follow. And here I am!
I have been married to my husband, David for 30 years (this July). He works for The Andersons, Inc. as an Environmental Health and Safety Manager. We have two college age children. Sam (23) is a 4th year (it’s a 5 year program) Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Cincinnati and is also plays a sousaphone with the UC Bearcat Marching band. Andrew (21) completed his 2nd year as an Informational Technology major at UC but has moved home this summer to pursue his degree more locally. He is an avid gamer and loves all things technology. We attended St. John’s in Tipp city while I worked there but now attend St. Patrick’s Church in Troy where we can be “regular” people.
In my free time I love to bike (I’m riding 50 miles in August to raise money for cancer research), garden, read, travel and spend time with my family and friends. I am so very excited to be a part of the team here…I look forward to getting to know you all and serving the community in my role. Please feel free to stop by, give a call, or email if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns. I am here to serve…and I look forward to doing so for a long time.
In Christ,
Teri
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