Meet The Pastor & 1st Lady
Dr. Terrence L. Vandiver, Sr.
& Lady Maria Vandiver
At the heart of Thankful Baptist Church is a family who leads with love, lives with purpose, and serves with unwavering faith. Dr. Terrence Vandiver and Lady Maria Vandiver have been married for 22 years and are proud parents of three remarkable children—Terrence Jr., Taryn, and Tierra. Now empty nesters, they continue to pour their lives into the Thankful family with the same care and intentionality they’ve shown in raising their own.
Lady Maria Vandiver is a compassionate soul, a devoted mother, and a faithful servant of God. She is known for her quiet strength, her fervent prayers, and her deep commitment to ministry. As First Lady, she serves with both vision and humility, encouraging women, families, and all who encounter her to trust God wholeheartedly.
Dr. Terrence Vandiver was called to serve as Senior Pastor of Thankful Baptist Church on April 27, 2015. A native of Augusta, Georgia, Pastor Vandiver holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from The Fort Valley State University, a Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Dental College of Georgia. He is also a published author and leadership coach whose passion for teaching, preaching, and developing others has touched lives both inside and beyond the church walls.
Pastor Vandiver's very first message as Pastor-Elect—“Greater is Coming” from 1 Corinthians 2:1–10—set the tone for a decade of transformational leadership. Installed as the 13th Pastor of Thankful Baptist Church in July 2015, he has since ordained and licensed spiritual leaders, relaunched ministries, expanded the church’s campus, and implemented a holistic discipleship model called DT4: Draw, Disciple, Develop, Deploy.
He leads with a commitment to significance over success, and challenges the church to serve the present age while making bold moves for the Kingdom of God. Together, Pastor and Lady Vandiver model a ministry that is Christ-centered, family-focused, and community-driven. They believe in reaching the lost, raising disciples, and releasing world-changers—and at Thankful, that mission is lived out every single day.