About

What is the Pattern of Sound Words Ministry

Hi my name is Terry Wilson and I represent the Pattern of Sound Words ministry. I want to tell you a little bit about myself, my experiences and the Lord’s work in my life so that you have a better understanding of why I embarked on this journey.

I was born in Africa and was raised in Zambia, the United States and in Zimbabwe where my parents served as missionaries. They both grew up in Africa as well and were the children of missionaries themselves. My Dad’s parents were missionaries in Angola and my Mom’s parents were missionaries in the Congo. So I was raised around people who loved the Lord and loved His Word. Knowing it, understanding it and living it out was extremely important to them all. My love and gratitude for the Word of God comes from them too. Even though they are all with the Lord today, I still enjoy listening to recordings of their teaching online.

Growing up on the mission field, surrounded by many faithful servants of the Lord gave me a deep appreciation for the difficulties of life where language and culture can be a frustration and an obstacle to faith. While much of the West has a growing apathy toward spiritual things, there is still a hunger in developing countries for the Word of God, but few resources to help them.

The other constant in my life was participation in a local church. My Irish relatives were strong Presbyterians who attended church every week and led their families in prayer each day. I am not sure if they were saved but on August 19, 1894, my great-grandfather, David Boyd Wilson, was saved through the preaching of evangelist David Rea at the Fulton Street Hall, Belfast. He was baptized and received into fellowship in Lower Windsor assembly soon afterwards. Our family’s involvement with the assemblies goes back over 125 years.

We have fellowshipped in a great number of assemblies over the years in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK, the United States and Canada. Most were quite conservative and a few were more open. But the focus on the Word of God and the application of practices they believed to be biblical have been the hallmark of the assemblies since the beginning and for that I have always been thankful.

The assemblies are certainly not perfect because those of us who attend and fellowship in them are not perfect. There are still deep divisions today between different groups. I am sure that it grieves the Lord deeply to see such conflict and division in His body. There is a constant tension between truth and grace. The only One truly able to resolve that tension is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

I am thankful for the many who have poured into my life over the years and who have modeled Christ-like lives for me. I believe the Lord is using these experiences and interactions in my life to help me focus on the three priorities where I believe He can use me. These are what motivate me a believer and are the reasons why I started this ministry.

A continued focus on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ through Word of God. Let the Bible be our pattern in life. The Lord Jesus Christ has provided us with all we need to know about His will and His pattern for our lives. In 2 Timothy 1:13, Paul writes to the younger man, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus“. He also calls on the believers in Philippi to “join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” Philippians 3:17. We follow those who follow Christ.
A heart and burden to strengthen the assemblies that are struggling in days where interest in Biblical truth is at an all-time low, across all denominations. There are many assemblies that are strong and growing, but there are others who are struggling for a variety of reasons. My heart would be to come alongside those that want help as a support and encouragement.
A heart and burden for our missionaries and national believers around the world who face issues that we cannot imagine in our comfortable local churches in North America. We want to provide resources, free of charge, that are versatile enough to be adapted and translated for local conditions.

I would appreciate your prayers as we continue to pray for the Lord’s leading and direction in our lives and ministry.