One Sunday afternoon in the late 1980s, Charles and Terri Crosby took a drive around town. They decided to stop at a little church on Main St. In the middle of a gravel lot sat a small metal building. “It looked more like a warehouse than like a church,” said Terri. The parking lot wasn’t empty; a man sat in his blue VW eating Dairy Queen ice cream. The couple would soon find out that the man’s name was Danny Richerson, and the church behind him was Triad Baptist. He invited them to Sunday night service, and in the words of Terri, “The rest is history.”

Charles and Terri officially became members of TBC in 1986, making 2026 their 40th year at TBC. In those years, the church has grown and changed dramatically. From a small meeting of about 300 people to a church of more than 1500 members, Charles and Terri watched the church expand. When asked why they’ve stayed so long, Terri explained, “It’s the people. We love the people here.” The couple has been supported by the many friends they’ve made at TBC. Their three kids, Carrie, Stephanie, and Matthew, were each raised at the church through the children's church and youth programs. 

For most of Charles’s career, he served as a deputy in the local police department. He had a way with people and a mind for justice, so policing seemed a natural fit. He found many ways to minister and evangelize within the department. Despite such a demanding career, Charles still found the time to pour into his local church. He ran the men’s fellowship at TBC for years, bringing in a wide variety of speakers and cooking meals for the ministry. “We had a group of 80 to 90 guys coming on a consistent basis,” said Decker. Charles also helped run TBC’s Upward program, started the first English as a Second Language program at the church, and taught Sunday school as part of his service. 

When Rob Decker took the job of head pastor at TBC, Terri stepped in as his personal secretary. She did it for a while as a volunteer, but Decker saw that she was deeply invested. “She managed pretty much everything in the office and did it all for free,” he remarked.  “From the beginning, she was a person I could count on.” After a while serving in this way, TBC brought Terri on full-time as a pastoral secretary. Back then, the staff was only Terri, Decker, and Pastor Tim Gerber. She’s been at the church ever since, handling accounts receivable. “I don’t plan to retire anytime soon,” said Terri. “I’d like to stay here as long as I can.” From Vacation Bible School to the many hats and scarves she’s made for Hands to Heart, Terri’s had a significant impact on the church for Christ. 

In their four decades of membership the Crosby’s have had at TBC, the Crosbys have left an indelible mark. It takes faithfulness and patience to remain in a congregation that long, and we are thankful that God has blessed us with them.