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Personal Profile
Debby currently serves as pastor of the Stanford Presbyterian Church near Jacksonville, NC. Her ministry includes preaching weekly, pastoral care, and moderating the session.
Debby received her Master of Divinity degree, with a Christian Education emphasis, from the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Debby serves on the planning team for PFR’s Christian Life Conference and has worked with PFR’s Wee Kirk Conference.
Debby and her husband Don, who is also an ordained Presbyterian minister, have three boys– Nick (17), Ben (14), and Timothy (11).
Debby loves to spend her freetime running.
Debby began her ministry at WPC on Sunday, May 11.
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Debby's Statement of Faith
I believe in one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our God is the Creator of all things. He is completely good, full of mercy, wisdom, and love. He is the God of Israel and of all nations, and has revealed Himself in His holy Word, the scripture.
Our Lord loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, fully human and fully God, as the light of the world, to redeem us from our sins and give us eternal life. Jesus died on the cross for us, was buried, and rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven. One day, Jesus will come back again and will judge the living and the dead. He is the Savior and hope of the world and my Savior and Lord.
Our Lord poured out the Holy Spirit upon believers on the Day of Pentecost and started the church. Since then, the Lord through His Spirit has saved and transformed lives. As believers, we are never alone, but always have the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, living within us. By the Holy Spirit, we, ordinary people, have received spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ and power to accomplish His purposes in the world. Jesus calls His followers to be with Him and then sends us out to help fulfill His Great Commission, making disciples of all nations, by word and service.
In the church, we have the joy of worshipping our Lord together through prayer, song, sacrament and hearing the Word preached. Baptism is a once in a lifetime event which takes place in the church, either at infancy or later in life. Based on faith promises of the parents or the individual believer, if he/she is of age, water is used as an outward sign to show the inward grace of God whereby He washes away our sins and gives us newness of life, as a part of His body, the church. The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing reminder of the Lord’s body and blood given for us on the cross. In it, we experience the Lord’s presence, forgiveness, and renewal.
The Bible is God’s written Word, inspired by Him, and profitable for us for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. In it, God reveals Himself to us. It is worthy of a lifetime of study. Through God’s Word, God teaches us His salvation and makes us wise for everyday living.
Our God wants us to trust Him, and to love our Savior with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He is worthy of all of our trust and love!
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Excerpts from Debby's Faith Autobiography
I was blessed to be born into a Christian family in New Jersey. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church, and don’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in God.
Because of my father’s work as a chemical engineer with Exxon, our family lived overseas on and off, but kept returning to N.J. During my high school years in Belgium, missionaries on their way to the Congo would come through and speak about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I knew I wanted that and needed it, so I invited Jesus into my own heart to be my Lord and Savior. After that was a wonderful period of growth in Christ.
I was an English major at Smith College in Northampton, MA, and was certified to teach English. While a college student, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. God gave me a growing desire to share my faith and to help others grow in theirs. After graduation I began serving with Campus Crusade at Northwestern University and then with college students in England and Scotland. After this, I returned for a year of rest and discernment living in N.J. During that year I felt the Lord’s calling to pursue ordained ministry and after completing my Master of Divinity at Trinity, I was ordained in the PC(USA).
Our family has served in a number of places, but most recently we have been in Jacksonville, N.C. In my time here, I have had the opportunity to not only serve the Stanford Church, but to serve for two years as a part-time hospice chaplain. I have also taught New Testament and Old Testament classes on a regular basis as adjunct faculty at Camp Lejeune.
I have learned much about myself, prayer, and the love and faithfulness of Jesus. I love the Lord, and look forward to growing in Him and serving with you!
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Thoughts from the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee
“I believe that her Master of Divinity, with a Christian Education emphasis, helps strengthen that important ministry here at WPC.”
Bill Jacobs
“Debby is so personable. I felt as if I've known her for a long time. She has such an easy camaraderie with our pastor that I know the two will be able to hit the ground running when she arrives.”
Ann Stoddard
"Gentle and caring; she will be great with all ages. She is a vibrant person."
Lynn Bornemann
“Debby has a tremendous love of her Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Kenny Price
“When I think of Debbie, I can’t help but come away with the knowledge that she is grounded in scripture. I know she holds her prayer life as invaluable. I know she runs everything in her life through God first. I am comforted knowing that she has such a close relationship with God.”
Ellen Warner
“I wholeheartedly recommend Debby 200%.”
David Bell
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