Dr. Terry Powell is Faculty Emeritus at Columbia International University, in S. C., where he is an Adjunct Professor in Church Ministries. Dr. Powell writes a blog on faith and depression: penetratingthedarkness.com . Serve Strong helps volunteers as well as vocational Christian workers combat discouragement, persevere through weariness, and cultivate endurance for the long haul.

I received a call from God to communicate His Word and serve Him vocationally after two years of college, which altered my plans to major in English and become a writer. I met my wife, Dolly, while majoring in Religion at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee. From there I attended Wheaton Graduate School, where I earned two degrees: a Masters in Communications, and a second in Christian Education.

On two separate occasions, I have served as part-time Director of Christian Education at Cornerstone Church (PCA) in Irmo, S.C. (1991-95, and 2007-2011), where I have been a member since 1982. I am a licensed preacher in the Palmetto Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America.

Since 1994, I have taken 29 trips overseas to train national workers, in a total of 12 different countries.

God’s grace has been especially evident in my life through repeated bouts of depression. When medical intervention has not worked, my faith in God’s character and God’s promises has sustained me, and I am still learning that God’s power is perfected in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). I have discovered the truth of what another depression-prone leader wrote years ago: “God gets from us most glory when we get from Him much grace” (Charles Spurgeon).

In addition to my bride of 49 years, I have two grown sons, a 9-year-old grandson, plus a 13-year-old dachshund, Farley. My constant prayer is, “Lord, make me the person my dog thinks I am.”