Meet the Family: Terry McDonald (Canada)

My name is Terry McDonald, and I'm a 62-year-old living in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. I've been happily married to my loving wife, Sandra, for 39 years, and we're blessed with three wonderful daughters and two grandchildren.

I grew up with three siblings in a Christian home and had loving parents who provided a strong foundation for my faith. However, we each learned that a personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior was essential, and that faith had to be individually embraced in God's timing.

My own struggles peaked in 8th grade when I was spending time with the wrong crowd at school and in my neighborhood. Even though I had committed my life to the Lord, been baptized, and was involved in a weekly program, a gradual shift was occurring in my life. It was my third year in the program, and I had even become a junior leader—but things quickly went downhill that year. I started skipping church to hang out with my new friends outside of church.

This period became a crucial turning point in my life and faith journey. Thankfully, my friend's father, who was a leader in the program, noticed my declining attendance and changes in my behavior. He lovingly confronted me, asking insightful questions and, as a necessary consequence, demoted me as a junior leader. This truly hit me hard, and God began to speak to my heart. I realized I was at a crossroads, needing to decide which group of friends and lifestyle I would follow. Feeling God's love and knowing He desired the best for me, I recommitted myself to the church programs and turned away from my street friends. I even brought one of my friends with me to church, who later came to the Lord! Before the year was over, I was promoted back into an even higher leadership role in the program. I'm incredibly fortunate that this was a swift life lesson—it was undeniably my turning point that could have gone a much worse way.

My increased involvement in the church also led me to Friday youth night, where four years later, I met Sandra, who would become my wife. God truly saved my life in countless ways, and I owe everything to Him. Recognizing the significant role others played in my faith journey, I began going on mission trips—two to Mexico through the youth program, and more to Haiti through our Grace fellowship annually from 2011 to 2018.

Giving back and serving the Lord through your local church is incredibly important. You never know how God will use you. God used others to make a huge difference in my life, and working through people continues to be His primary strategy for expanding His Kingdom.

My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 121:1-2: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." I pray and rely on the Lord to help and guide me every moment of the day. He continues to be there through all the good and tough times in my life, and I owe all to Him for His grace and mercy.