In early August, we were excited to announce the Reverend Dr. Terry Anderson as our organization’s new executive director. Rev. Anderson comes to IHN from First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Wayne, where he served as senior pastor and head of staff since April 2008. He will guide our very important mission as the only emergency homeless shelter in Fort Wayne that keeps families together.

“Fort Wayne often has been called the ‘City of Faith,’ but it also might be known as the ‘Community of Compassion,’” Rev. Anderson said. “The people of our community have a long history of caring for those in deepest need and greatest crisis. I am honored to become a part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network family, an agency that calls forth the A publication of the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. P.O. Box 13326 Fort Wayne, Indiana 46868-3326 Phone: 260-458-9772 Fax: 260-258-0552 Welcome to our new executive director best of our faith traditions to serve the least, the last and the lost of our society.

“As the Fort Wayne area’s only emergency shelter for homeless families,” he continued, “IHN preserves family unity while providing for those in profound need with a strong sense of dignity and respect. The Interfaith Hospitality Network recognizes that we are all children of God, that we share a common humanity, and that we deserve kindness and compassion from one another. IHN is ‘love in action,’ and I am proud to be a part of this work of meaning and purpose.”

Rev. Anderson brings more than 25 years of experience in ministry, service and organizational leadership to IHN. His  experience includes 13 years as the executive director of the Samaritan Counseling Center in Fort Wayne, four years as a program director for Parkview Behavioral Health in Fort Wayne, and six years as an associate director for Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County. He has earned several professional certifications that will suit him well for his new role with IHN, including as a licensed clinical social worker through the State of Indiana and as an authorized supervisor through the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. In addition, he was a founding member of the Mayor’s  Commission for Interfaith Understanding.

In addition, his extensive experience in inter- and cross-faith organizations includes as a cofounder of the Northeast Indiana Interfaith Alliance, as well as roles with the Clergy United for Action, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, One Church-One Offender and the Heal the Land services group sponsored by the Peace and Justice Commission of Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County.

Ahnee Conner, president of IHN’s board of directors, welcomed Rev. Anderson by saying, “His experience, his energy and his excitement will have a wonderfully positive impact on everyone here at IHN. We are lucky to have him.”

In September 2008, Morehouse College in Atlanta awarded Anderson the 2008 Gandhi King Ikeda Community Builders Peace Award in recognition of his commitment to and leadership in issues like human rights, humanitarianism and peace. Prior recipients of the award include Rosa Parks and Andrew Young, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Welcome, Rev. Anderson! We’re very excited to welcome you to the IHN family.