Teresa J. Bray, President of Back Office Consultants, is Parker Street Ministries’ Board of Trustees Chair for 2022-2023. Learn a little more about her below. Congratulations, Teresa!
What drew you to PSM?
I was drawn to PSM because of the neighborhood and the need. Parker Street’s vision to pursue healthy community and a dependence on God is how positive change has been and will continue to be achieved. Every volunteer, staff member, and board member has been touched in some way by the restoration and renewal of this neighborhood through the power of the gospel. We are blessed every time we hear stories of neighbors helping neighbors; we are encouraged when we see our students graduating from high school and having a desire to go to college; we are excited to equip our kids and young adults with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life. Parker Street is a fitting example of how God can be trusted to see our need; then he provides a way to bring about change.
What has God taught you as a result of this connection to PSM?
The most important thing I have learned is that God’s grace is for everyone, even though the evidence of His grace may be different for each of us. God desires for us to have an intimate relationship with him, on our worst days and our best days. He never tires of us and is always ready to shower us with his grace, mercy, hope and love. God’s goodness equips us to do things that we never imagined we could. I love the famous quote from Mother Teresa who said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
What is your favorite scripture?
I continually find new favorite scriptures—here’s the latest one: (Colossians 2:7 NLT) “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
My hope and confidence are in the Lord, and by being deeply rooted in him, I can face every hardship that comes my way. I’m learning what it means to abide in him, but abiding is sometimes hard to do. To know that God can continue to use me to bless and serve others even during my challenging seasons, even when I’m just trying to abide, makes me grateful.
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Parker Street Ministries (PSM) is a 501c3 nonprofit in Lakeland, Florida that follows a Gospel-centered model characterized by living, listening, affirming dignity, and building community together in and through the Parker Street neighborhood. For twenty-two years, PSM’s vision has been to see a city transformed by the power of the Gospel through building champions who make possible desirable neighborhoods, lifetime learners, financial sustainability, and healthy communities for all.