SEU Perspective: Dr. Terry Roberts '72

DR. TERRY ROBERTS ’72

BIO

A graduate, the husband of an alumnus, the parent of a graduate, an adjunct professor and a Trustee. Each of those terms describes my relationship with SEU.

In 1967, after graduating high school and sensing a call to vocational ministry, I enrolled as a freshman at “Southeastern Bible College.” I chose Southeastern because my older sister (BECKY ROBERTS WOODS ’63) had graduated from there with an education degree, and she sang the school’s praises. She also met her husband, DON ’72, there.

At Southeastern, professors like Crandall Miller, Royce Shelton, Ruth Breusch, Edgar Lee and Bashford Bishop made a huge impression and influenced me to pursue a relationship with God and the passionate knowledge of His word and ways.

At Southeastern, I met SANDRA DENHAM ’71, who would become my wife and lifelong ministry partner. Through the influence of her parents, I received the call to pastor my first church. Her brother RON ’69, also a Southeastern graduate, would become one of my best friends, a fellow pastor and a source of wisdom and encouragement for my pastoral ministry.

I made other friends at Southeastern — including MILTON DYKES ’71, RON

MCGEE ’71, VICTOR SMITH ’72, DAVID GRANT ’68, RON MCMANUS

’70 and TERRY RABURN ’08 (MAML), ’20 (D.Min). Those friendships have benefited me in countless ways, and in some cases, opened doors of ministry to me.

When our daughter AMY ’02 was ready to consider college, she chose our local community college, and I was okay with that because it was close and cheap. The day I delivered her enrollment application to that college, I had a “God moment.” I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “If Amy attends Southeastern, she will be influenced by anointed leaders from all over the world.” I responded, “Yes, Lord. But she doesn’t want to go to Southeastern. If you want her there, you will have to change her heart.” A few days later, as we sat at dinner, Amy said with tear-filled eyes, “I know we don’t have the money for me to go to Southeastern, but I really want to go there.” I told her about my experience a few days prior, and I said, “We will find a way for you to go there!” And we did: parent and student loans. And it was worth every penny! After graduation, Amy went into education and eventually earned her Ed.D. Today, she is the middle school principal of Providence School in Jacksonville, Fla., a large, world-class Christian school. Her husband is the head football coach, and their twin children are rising ninth graders there.

As a member of the SEU Board of Trustees, I have sat among giants — people like Tommy Barnett, Rich Wilkerson and Mark Batterson. I have been inspired and challenged by the leadership of our president, Dr. Kent Ingle, a man who walks with God. I have marveled at the growth of the SEU student body — numerically, spiritually and academically. I have rejoiced over the continuing development of our beautiful Lakeland campus and the addition of many extension campuses to our Southeastern family.

Years ago, someone calculated that more than 35 members of our extended family had attended Southeastern. I’m sure that number is much higher now. Southeastern has had a huge impact on my family and me, and I find joy in supporting this wonderful school, so that others may experience that impact as well.

Dr. Terry Roberts graduated from SEU in 1972 with a B.A. in Ministry. He earned an M.A. in Bible at Columbia International University in 1998 and a D.Min. in Church Leadership at AGTS in 2014. He and his wife, Sandra, are founding pastors of Trinity Church (Assemblies of God) in Columbia, S.C. Terry is the author of “Passing the Baton: Planning for Pastoral Transition” and “Beyond Reconciliation: Experiencing Koinonia across the Racial Divide.” Currently, Terry serves SEU as an adjunct professor and a member of the Board of Trustees.