Ted Woehr's introduction

Ted Woehr is kind of like the Phantom or the Shadow of long-ago radio fame. He definitely makes his mark and leaves his imprint, but we rarely see him! Such is the case today. He is one of our guest speakers – but he isn't here! Filling in for him and reading what Ted wrote, will be David Johnson.

It dawned on me when I was writing Ted's introduction that he seems to be a holiday or special-occasion kind of guy. Ted had a large role in MLUUC's Christmas Moravian Lovefeast last Christmas, was the guest speaker for our Valentine's Day service, offered his home and hospitality for our Easter Sunrise Service, contributed native American lore to our Homecoming service when we moved to the Cherry Log Church on the Hill, and, here he is again – absent – but, nonetheless, contributing to another holiday service on Labor Day weekend.

Where is Ted today? He is at his part-time job at Lowe's. Lowe's seems to have made Ted their Sunday go-to guy! In addition to his part-time job, Ted sits on the Willow Creek Board of Directors, the Mountain Light Board of Directors, is continuing work rebuilding the Ark in Ellijay, and serves as Mountain Light's treasurer.

But, with all this on his mind, boats and boating occupy a large portion of his day dreams. And with good reason. Ted has studied at the Wooden Boat School in New York and at the prestigious International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island. He has built several sailboats and canoes – in addition to being a major player in building this Mountain Light pulpit.

In 1999, Ted and Terry moved onto their trawler fulltime and began a nine year adventure. Ted took the necessary courses and earned a Coast Guard Captain's license, enabling him to train new owners of sister ships. In addition, Ted, with Terry and the cats in tow, worked as one of the boat builder's delivery captains, sailing new boats to their new home ports and to their new owners. The Woehrs spent nine years cruising from Maine to the West Coast of Florida.

Then, in 2009, they returned to dry land and the mountains of North Georgia. How lucky are we! Mountain Light has reason to be thankful.