Meet Pastor Rev. Dr. Terry Tieman

Terry Tieman began his career in ministry as a pastor in Michigan and Arkansas. He then served for 13 years as Mission Executive of the Mid-South District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS).

In January 2009, Terry became the Executive Director of Transforming Churches Network (TCN), which helps churches become more effective in reaching their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. TCN’s transformation process – which is based on Biblical principles and was developed through worldwide research on effective mission movements and pilot projects – has successfully changed hundreds of churches from the inside out.

Terry continues to gain front-line experience as Pastor at Grace Celebration Lutheran Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he began serving August 1, 2018. He is also the author of several books, including Hinges: Opening Your Church’s Doors to the Community, Catching Vision, Skill Builders, and People of Passion.

Terry’s most recent work has led to the development of Seasons of Discovery, a step-wise church transformation process.

Terry and his wife Becky, have three sons and six grandchildren. Becky teaches English Second Language classes at Newberry Elementary in Memphis.

Meet Pastor Jim Belles

Pastor Jim’s path into ministry took an unconventional path. As a metorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) for thirty-one years before retiring, Jim predicted tornadoes, blizzards and floods from North Dakota to Mississippi. During the last sixteen years of his experience he served as Meterologist in Charge of the NWS office in Memphis, Tennessee.

In the midst of that vocation God led Pastor Jim into ministry. For years he served youth, engaged in jail ministry, helped deliver the Gospel with the Gideons International and as a lay deacon with the Lutheran Church Misssouri Synod (LCMS), where Pastor Jim has served at Grace Celebration and surrounding LCMS churches as the need arose. In 2018, Jim was ordained, through the LCMS specific ministry colloquy program.

It’s easy to connect with Pastor Jim, just strike up a conversation about weather or fishing and you are on your way to discussing God’s wonderful creation. Jim is married to Jean and they are blessed with four sons and a grand daughter.