Dr. Prentis McGoldrick
Senior Pastor
I was born and raised in the small Texas town of Cameron. I became a member of a church in Cameron and even went without missing any Sundays for two years in a row but did not know Jesus as my Savior. It wasn’t until I returned from a church retreat as a freshman at Texas A&M that I gave my heart to Jesus. I am quite sure that I had heard the Gospel many times before but it was on a Saturday afternoon (April 21, 1973) that I told Jesus I needed Him. He came into my life and changed my destiny forever.
God has directed my life in wonderful ways since then. I met my wife, Karen, at the Baptist Student Center at Texas A&M. After graduation, I became a Campus Evangelism Coordinator for the Baptist Student Unions of Kilgore College and Panola Jr. College in East Texas. However, it wasn’t until I was teaching school in Tyler that God called me into the ministry. Two of my three daughters were born while I was in seminary.
I completed my formal education with a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. After serving churches in Texas and Tennessee, God called me to Thalia Lynn. I began serving here on Easter Sunday 2005.
Thalia Lynn has been an incredible blessing to me. I believe God is going to do something here that will only be attributed to Him.
My life verse is, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Philippians 3:10)
Rev. Bret Woodall
Associate Pastor, Music
I consider myself a native Texan but must make the sad confession that I was born in California. While my Dad was in the Navy we traveled around southern California and then upstate New York but by the time I was four we were back home in southeast Texas. I was blessed with wonderful parents and grandparents and a close-knit family with a heritage of faith. In the church in which I grew up; my mother was the organist, my aunt the pianist, my uncle (from the other side of the family) was the music minister, while my Dad and grandfathers served in many key lay-leadership roles.
It was normal for us to be at church four or five times a week and so it seemed natural to make a decision to follow Christ at the age of eight. Only years later, looking back have I gratefully marvelled that God would convict me as a young child of my great spiritual need of salvation. I surrendered to vocational ministry at the age of sixteen. Since then, the Lord has orchestrated circumstances and opportunities that have confirmed my role in His service.
After graduating high school, I attended Howard Payne University for two years where I first meet my amazing wife Krista. I completed my undergraduate education at Lamar University earning a Music Education degree and then did my graduate work in Voice and Opera at the University of North Texas. It was at UNT that I renewed my friendship with Krista.
I could not ask for a better partner in ministry than Krista. She has so many wonderful gifts she offers in the Lord’s service, especially teaching and a counselor’s heart. We were married in 1995 and God has since blessed us with two remarkable, beautiful daughters: Charis and Eirene.
We had served churches in Louisiana and Texas for more than ten years when in early 2009 the Lord led us to Virginia Beach and the wonderful people at Thalia Lynn. This is an exciting and encouraging place to serve and I fully expect the Lord to do amazing things through this church in the coming years.
God has given me a heart for worship and I believe that my role is to disciple and equip members of the local church as they seek their place of service. Every Christian is called to a relationship with the living God through the saving activity of Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Our primary stance in this relationship is that of worship. Worship is the very picture of a Christian’s walk with the Lord; for in true worship we not only remember and proclaim the gospel message, but are fashioned by God’s hands into the people of Christ.
Accordingly, one of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 12. I love the whole chapter (all six verses) but especially these:
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
In that day you will say:
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.”
Rev. Perry Crouch
Associate Pastor, Christian Education
Although I was born in North Carolina, I have lived most of my adult life in Virginia. I grew up in a Christian home and through the guidance two very loving parents came to understand who Jesus was and why he died for me. I publicly confirmed my trust in Christ as my Savior when I joined the church, at about the age of twelve. However, it wasn’t until the summer following my senior year of high school that I really came to terms with the idea of totally surrendering my life to Him as Lord. That summer, in the quiet darkness and stillness of my bedroom, I committed my life to God’s service, wherever He happened to lead me. Since that time, God has led me to serve Him in the public education field and as a volunteer church youth worker in Winchester, Virginia; in seminary as a religious education student and a part-time youth minister in Louisville, Kentucky; and in the local church, first as Youth Minister for 6 years in Bel Air, Maryland, then as Youth Minister for 16 years here at Thalia Lynn Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, and more recently, as Minister of Christian Education, again at Thalia Lynn. My wife, Emily, and I have been happily married for 24 years and we have two wonderful adult children, a son and a daughter.
There are several passages from the Bible that have had a significant impact on my spiritual journey. One such passage is Romans 8:37, "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." My passion lies in helping others to be engaged in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ.
Also, just for the record, I enjoy a good North Carolina barbeque sandwich and am an avid Duke basketball fan.
Rev. Cody Froelich
Associate Pastor, Student Ministry
Don’t call me a Cajun just because my stomping grounds were in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I have Texas blood in my veins, and my family would disown me if I didn’t embrace my inner-Texan. Such is life! But, it has been an exciting life for me, and I am very thankful that God has seen fit to bless me with different places to live and new opportunities along the way.
With a father who has been in the ministry for 35 plus years now, the church has been instrumental in my own growth, both physical and spiritual. I became a Christian at the age of eight, and while I believe without a doubt that I was saved by grace through faith in Christ, it wasn’t until I was twelve that I realized there was more than just fire insurance to my salvation. It was then I recognized the need to have Jesus be the Lord of my life, as well as my salvation. A few years later, I followed God’s leading in my heart and committed to serve Him in vocational ministry.
One wife (Mary), three children (twin boys Caleb and JohnLuke, and their little brother Joshua), seven guitars (though only three are left), and several jobs later, I find myself feeling as though I’m still only at the tip of the iceberg of what God is doing. I truly do my best to hold on to one goal, which is to faithfully serve Him who has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. At this point in my life, I am thrilled to experience a new joy in learning about God’s word, I am humbled as I begin to see some visible fruit from my years in ministry through contact with former students, and I am excited to be a part of what God is doing at Thalia Lynn Baptist Church. I always enjoy meeting new people, so grab a Coke, some M & M’s or Twizzlers, and come by and visit with me! Oh, bring me some, too.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24
Sharon Walpole
Music Associate/Organist
I was born in Arkansas and raised in a Christian home. At six years of age, I accepted Christ as my Savior and was mentored by many special Sunday School, G. A. and children’s choir teachers as I learned what following Christ meant. Arch and I met at Arkansas State University and were married in 1975. We have been blessed with 3 children and three wonderful grandchildren.
Music has been part of my life as long as I can remember. One special memory is of sitting in a cool sanctuary, listening to the organ prelude and hearing my daddy say “Maybe someday you will play the organ in church”. As a teen counselor and pianist at a summer mission camp, I surrendered my life to fulltime Christian service. That call has included being a fulltime mother, a community volunteer, and now a full-time church musician.
We serve an awesome God! My desire is to worship “in spirit and in truth” and to help facilitate worship for others. My joy is to see all God’s children, whether aged 3 or 93, praising Him with a joyful noise.
“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16: 5-6
Diane Stollings
Director, Children's Ministry
I have lived in Virginia Beach all of my life and have attended Thalia Lynn Baptist Church since I was an infant. As a child, I came with my family each week to Sunday School and worship, and to choir and mission classes. My parents taught me how to love and serve Jesus Christ through their everyday life choices, and they understood the importance of raising me and my brothers in a loving church community.
Some of my favorite memories from my childhood and teenage years revolve around experiences I had at Thalia Lynn. One special day, in particular, happened when I was nine years old. What started out as a typical Sunday morning, became the turning point of my entire life. On that morning, I became aware of my need to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I understood for the first time that I was a sinner and that Jesus Christ took my punishment, and I wanted to accept His gift of forgiveness and life.
Since that day, God has been faithfully teaching and directing me. I met Greg through the youth group, and we have been happily married since 1980. We have two beautiful daughters, Beth and Amy and two wonderful son-in-laws Ryan and David. Greg and I are so appreciative for the many ways God has blessed our family through the ministries of this church, and it is with a humble heart, one full of gratitude and love, that I am now able to serve as the Director of Children's Ministry. My life is a testimony to the way children's ministry plants seeds in the lives of young children. It is my prayer that God will use me to help lay the foundation for each child to come to know Christ as their personal Savior, and to teach them to serve Him every day of their lives.
One of my favorite scriptures is found in Psalm 25:4-5.
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
Julie Phelps
Director, Preschool Ministry
I was raised in Virginia Beach by two loving Christian parents. I often say that every time the church doors were open our family was there. My parents have always been a wonderful example of how we should serve God, our church, and others.
I have been happily married to Jerry for 24 years. We were college sweethearts. We have known each other since we were 12 years old, but our paths didn't cross again until we ran into each other outside a religion class I was enrolled in. We are the proud parents of three sons. When people ask me about my hobbies, I know moms will always understand when I say my boys. Watching them learn, grow, and experience new things has been the greatest joy of my life. My hope for them is that they become everything God has created them to be.
I have been on the church staff for three years, but I am not new to the church. I have been a member for over 35 years. I am amazed that God has given me this opportunity to serve the youngest members of God’s kingdom at Thalia Lynn. I often reflect on the fact that Jesus chose 12 ordinary men to be his disciples to continue his ministry and forever change the world. I am also an ordinary mom who enjoys working with children, but I am being obedient to his call, and standing firm on the knowledge that he will equip me to serve as Director of Preschool Ministries.