Hello! I'm Cheri

Hello! My name is Cherí Grissom. I am a third-culture kid with a compulsive need to seek out adventure and serendipity in everyday life – especially if it involves shoes and/or chocolate. I am also a perpetual daydreamer, a high-heel-wearing traveler, a (self-proclaimed) semi-pro shopper, an eternal student, an occasional teacher, a starry-eyed wanderer, and an obsessive fan of words, music, and languages.

I am originally from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (from the town of Raymondville). I spent several years of my childhood here, until my parents were called to be missionaries. From there, we traveled around the United States and Canada, raising support, before moving to Costa Rica and Colombia.

I have worked with children, youth, ladies, music, media, missions, and singles ministries over the years. While living in the Texas District of the UPCI, I had the privilege of serving on the Texas District SAM (Single Adult Ministries) committee and on the National SAM committee.

I am passionate about educational ministries in the church and beyond. I spent some wonderful years at Texas Bible College (TBC), where I taught classes in missions, education, culture, theology, and leadership. While at TBC, I also served as Program Chair of two departments, Christian Education and Online Education. Before my time at TBC, I taught courses in language (Spanish, Portuguese, and Intensive English) and pedagogy at University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Texas Tech University, Navarro College, and Angelina College.

I currently serve in music/media ministries at Gateway UPC but I also teach, speak, and write for my local church and other ministries. I love writing and generally have about twenty projects going. My most recent project in my local community is a ministry called The Caring House (named for a song written by my uncle) that focuses on community outreach and care.

Many years ago, I made a promise. I promised God I would walk through any door He opened for me. I had no idea where that promise would take me.

The first door took me from my place of comfort as a pastor’s daughter in Raymondville, Texas, to Colombia, South America, where my parents were missionaries. We traveled throughout the country and saw God do incredible things. This door taught me faith and ignited a burden for missions within me.

The next door took me across the state of Texas, working in churches of all sizes with my family. I fell more deeply in love with ministry and served wherever they would have me. This door taught me service and gave me a desire for a life in ministry.

The next door took me through the ivory towers of academia. I pursued higher education, and received degrees that trained me in languages, literatures, and education. This door taught me humility and gave me a hunger for wisdom and understanding. 

Then God brought me full circle, back to Raymondville to serve at Gateway UPC, the church that formed me. I served for a year as a hospital chaplain and, as every day involved walking through dozens of doors to visit and minister to strangers, I often thought back to that original promise I had made.

While God opened a lot of doors for me, there was one that remained closed for years, no matter how much I longed for Him to open it. I have been on missions trips as a participant, a chaperone, and an organizer, but the door to a deeper role in missions remained closed until this year. In March 2021, I am officially appointed as an Associate in Missions with the United Pentecostal Church International to the nation of Senegal.

Degrees Received

• Ph.D. in Spanish (Portuguese minor) | Texas Tech University | 2016
• M.A. in Romance Languages (Spanish Concentration) | Texas Tech University | 2008
• B.A. in Spanish (Bilingual Education minor) | University of Texas of the Permian Basin | 2004

Degrees in Progress

• M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Trauma and Crisis Counseling Specialization) | Walden University

Additional Licenses & Training

• Licensed Minister | United Pentecostal Church International | 2021
• Clinical Pastoral Education (4 Units) | Valley Baptist Medical Center | 2019