Terri Evans was born and raised in a little town in northeast Oklahoma called Picher. It’s no longer there today and is now considered a ghost town. Evans still remained in the state, however, until around the time she met her husband.
Evans then moved from Alabama to the Midwest, where she’s been for the past nine years now. Before Alabama, she was, again, in Oklahoma, because of her husband’s work. The both of them were youth pastors down in the South for 30+ years. Their retirement is what finally brought them to the Region.
Evans and her husband, Bob, have been involved with various kinds of work within and outside of the ministry. For a few years they led Club 56, a youth group for fifth and sixth-graders. Then they moved on to leading the Second Half Ministry, a faith group for individuals 50 years of age and older, and they’ve been doing that together for the past seven to eight years.
Nowadays, Evans does volunteer-type missionary work; she and her husband sometimes work alongside their son, who is at the head of his own short-term mission group. They also take part in certain projects. One of the big ones they’ll be doing this year consists of a two-week-long stay in Costa Rica, where they will lodge at a seminary and direct practices intended to expand one’s spirituality.
More often than not, Evans’ role requires that she travel a lot. At this point, she’s been all over, from Guatemala to the Bahamas to eastern Kentucky, every region coming with something different to offer. What may just be most important is what brought her there to begin with: the mission work she does.
“We used to go out of the country every two years. Sometimes, you didn’t get the best of the best, but that didn’t matter because it was all about the mission work. When you arrive in the Bahamas, you see this beautiful skyline, some big hotels, a glowing beach, and appetizing restaurants, but blocks over you see poverty. What you see isn’t always what you get. The people you meet, though, are so beautiful, so genuine, sweet, and polite, so that’s why I’ll forever look forward to any traveling we might do,” she said.
No matter where she might wind up staying for the work she does, Evans always cooks. A few years back when she stayed during a summer at the University of Indianapolis, she did so much food preparation that she and the students whom she was living and working with fixed up more than 130 peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches a day, all so that everyone could remain well-fed.
Hospitality is something that she’s no stranger to, and being hospitable is something she’s unceasingly seeking, whether it’s making food or inspiring people spiritually.
“What we do is help people who need it the most. We go to those who are impoverished, hungry, and need help. We try to help them. It’s about prioritizing those who need service. I think that’s what we’re supposed to do all the time, being taught by God to assist one another,” she said.
Evans was a floral designer for 42 years. Though mission work has mostly consumed her time, she’s always held on to her passion for flowers and anything having to do with how they can enhance the look of things. Twelve years she spent working in Oklahoma, and the rest were all spent in Alabama. It was a family thing, and it remains a constant in her life even today.
“I was drawn to the flower shop. When I was in Oklahoma, it was a family-owned business. If you were part of it, then you worked there. That time passed quickly, yet I still do a little bit of that kind of work here, as well. I've done several weddings and events for different folks. I still get to practice a lot, and I do a lot of the holiday seasons and so forth, decorating and that sort of thing. I don't get too rusty,” she said.
Besides cooking and doing floral-design projects here and there, Evans has three great-grandchildren whom she cherishes greatly. She babysits them twice a week, and that keeps her busy. Every now and then, she’ll go out to check out flea markets and the thrifts.
Family and the desire to be closer to them is what brought Evans to Valparaiso years ago. She and her husband lived far away from them for quite a while, so being near now has meant the world. Seeing her family out in the community is what gives this place such a cozy feel to her.
“It’s just amazing here. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my granddaughter by chance at Hobby Lobby. We were so shocked that we ran into each other, and we laughed and laughed. Those are things that people take for granted, so it’s just awesome to be able to be with family now,” she said. “Sometimes it's just unreal that we are actually finally in Indiana with family.”