Pastors Corner: Rick and Terri McGarry

by Jani Gustafson

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Rick and Terri McGarry, the lead pastors at New Wine Covenant Church in Mason, MI—a vibrant church plant within the Great Lakes Conference. Their journey is a testament to the power of adaptability and passion in ministry. Both Rick and Terri attended Bible College with dreams of pursuing mission work, but life had different plans for them. They quickly discovered that traditional ministry often struggles to cover living expenses, prompting them to seek additional ways to support their calling.

Despite these challenges, their hearts have always been anchored in ministry—especially around families, small groups, and children’s programs. Their path led them to a mega church where they honed their skills in relationship building and made the Gospel accessible to all. However, as they grew more attuned to their community’s needs, they realized that this methodology wasn’t quite right for them anymore. At New Wine Covenant Church, they focus on cultural touchpoints that resonate deeply with local residents.

One remarkable initiative they spearheaded was a “Bless the Animals” event where over 200 pets received prayers! This unique approach reflects their belief that what matters to people is also significant to God—and it opens doors for deeper conversations about faith and community connection.

During challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic when children couldn’t sit on Santa’s lap as usual, Rick and Terri innovated yet again by creating “Over the River,” an enchanting hike through a local wooded park leading to “Santa’s workshop.” This allowed children in their community to share their Christmas wishes safely—a beautiful blend of creativity and compassion.

Rick and Terri are also bi-vocational pastors; both juggle jobs alongside their ministry work—Terri as a licensed professional therapist running her own counseling practice with eight employees while Rick serves in the Brighton School District. Together they cherish family life with one son who is married and two granddaughters aged one and three.

Their story reminds us that while we may face obstacles along our paths, we can find encouragement through community—like what they’ve experienced within The Covenant—and recognize that Christ’s Church is filled with imperfect yet loving individuals called to support one another. As they prepare for an upcoming conference on “Healing and Church Trauma,” we at GLC eagerly anticipate witnessing how Rick and Terri continue making impactful strides in Mason—and beyond—showing us all how love can flourish even amidst life’s complexities.