Board of Directors

His Perfect Love Ministries

Chairman: Steve Merritt

Steve joined HPLM in July 2021. "I grew up with addiction in my home and by the grace of God I never struggled with addiction myself. Two of my three children struggled with addictions and praise God they're free from drugs. All three are now serving our God. I want to keep Terry Merritt's legacy going with what she started with this ministry."
Steve has various achievements during his career at Piedmont Natural Gas and is current owner of Inspection Pros Inc.
Steve enjoys golf, fishing, hunting, and traveling.
Steve and his wife Crystal attend Charity Baptist Church in Kannapolis, N. C.

Vice Chairwoman: Tabitha Cudd

Tabitha joined HPLM is 2023.
Tabitha graduated House of Pearls in 2021.
"As a woman who's been bound by the chains of addiction, I have a heart to see others find the same hope, healing and restoration the Lord has given me. My position at A Cause for Tea allows me to serve my community empowering women and children."
Tabitha is a member of Second Baptist Church in Lancaster.
"My 2 children share my heart for ministry work. You will find us sharing our story, the Word, a simple card game or just the time the Lord has given us together. "

Pastor Wally Gilmer

Pastor Wally joined HPLM in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Tennessee Temple University.
Pastor Wally has dedicated his life to serving God. He has traveled this country and the world planting churches and ministering to the needy. Since settling in the Monroe area, he has served on the board of HELP Crisis Pregnancy Center and also served as Chaplain at Union County Jail for 5 years teaching the Life Skills Program along with participating in many other ministries in our area.
He and his wife, Pat, are proud parents of 5 adult children, 3 boys and 2 girls.
Pastor Wally enjoys reading, studying God’s Word, loves to watch baseball and college football, and riding his motorcycle for a little ‘wind-therapy.’
Wally is the pastor of Freedom Baptist Church of Locust, NC.

Dorie Mayes

Dorie joined HPLM in 2019. "I was privileged to walk alongside Terry Merritt in prayer when God gave her the vision to begin this wonderful ministry. I have a heart for women who have lost their way in life and I believe in the transformational power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
Dorie has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Along with her husband, Bill, they have been Wycliffe Bible Translators for 35 years. They have served in Papua New Guinea, Kenya, and JAARS in Waxhaw, N.C.
They have three adult children and nine grandchildren.
Both enjoy serving at Weddington Methodist Church in Weddington, N.C.

Matt McGinn

Matt joined HPLM in 2022. "Serving this ministry is serving the Lord. God has placed it on my heart to help these precious daughters, sisters, and mothers who have lost their way.
Matt has owned his own business as a General Contractor for more than 30 years. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and farming.
Matt and his wife, Icy, have been married for 44 years and have two children and three grandchildren.
He and Icy are members of Second Baptist Church in Lancaster, S. C.

Mark Hill

Mark joined HPLM in 2022. "I have a passion and love for those that suffer from addictions and I enjoy serving others."
Mark was home-schooled and worked for the family business until 2009. Mark is the current owner of Hill Paint & Wallcovering Inc.
He and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 30 years and have six children.
Mark's free time is spent enjoying his family and serving others in his community.
The family attends Lee Park Church in Monroe, N.C.

Secretary & Treasurer: Christine Surratt

Christine joined HPLM in 2016 as secretary & treasurer.
Christine married David Surratt in 1979.
Christine & her husband, David, attend Lee Park Baptist Church in Monroe N.C.

Margaret Butler

Margaret joined HPLM in 2019. She has been volunteering at House of Pearls since 2015 as a therapist.
Margaret has a Bachelor of Music degree and taught public school before going back to school in 2007 to get a degree as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 2010.
Margaret and her husband Edward have been married 47 years, They have two children and three precious grandchildren.
They are members of Mill Grove Church in Indian Trail.
Margaret says what she loves about volunteering at HOP is that "she gets to see God transform lives right in front of her eyes." She has come to realize, too, that "she never feels closer to Jesus than when she is in session with the strong, brave and beautiful Pearls!!"

Cindy Huffman

Cindy has been involved with House of Pearls since 2014.
"Like the majority of us my life has been affected by addiction. I commend the staff, the residents and the board for their involvement in this God honoring ministry."
In 2016, God guided Cindy, the board and even a few Pearls through the development of "Pearls Boutique".
"While I am retired from the position of store manager this is the area where I have landed. The Lord and retail have long been a part of my life, so the store is a perfect fit for me. A wonderful way to serve and support the ministry I love. It is humbling to be used by our God to aid in showing the "pearls" their value and His great love for them".
Cindy and her husband Bruce attend Providence City Church in Indian Trail, NC and Restoration Church in Lancaster SC.
Cindy is a granny to 10 cherished littles who she celebrates daily.

Board of Directors

His Perfect Love Ministries

Steve has various achievements during his career at Piedmont Natural Gas and is current owner of Inspection Pros Inc.

Steve enjoys golf, fishing, hunting, and traveling.

Steve and his wife Crystal attend Charity Baptist Church in Kannapolis, N. C.

Tabitha joined HPLM is 2023.

Tabitha graduated House of Pearls in 2021.

"As a woman who's been bound by the chains of addiction, I have a heart to see others find the same hope, healing and restoration the Lord has given me. My position at A Cause for Tea allows me to serve my community empowering women and children."

Tabitha is a member of Second Baptist Church in Lancaster.

"My 2 children share my heart for ministry work. You will find us sharing our story, the Word, a simple card game or just the time the Lord has given us together. "

Pastor Wally joined HPLM in 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Theology Degree from Tennessee Temple University.

He and his wife, Pat, are proud parents of 5 adult children, 3 boys and 2 girls.

Pastor Wally enjoys reading, studying God’s Word, loves to watch baseball and college football, and riding his motorcycle for a little ‘wind-therapy.’

Wally is the pastor of Freedom Baptist Church of Locust, NC.

Matt joined HPLM in 2022. "Serving this ministry is serving the Lord. God has placed it on my heart to help these precious daughters, sisters, and mothers who have lost their way.

Matt has owned his own business as a General Contractor for more than 30 years. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and farming.

Matt and his wife, Icy, have been married for 44 years and have two children and three grandchildren.

He and Icy are members of Second Baptist Church in Lancaster, S. C.

Mark joined HPLM in 2022. "I have a passion and love for those that suffer from addictions and I enjoy serving others."

Mark was home-schooled and worked for the family business until 2009. Mark is the current owner of Hill Paint & Wallcovering Inc.

He and his wife, Dawn, have been married for 30 years and have six children.

Mark's free time is spent enjoying his family and serving others in his community.

The family attends Lee Park Church in Monroe, N.C.

Christine joined HPLM in 2016 as secretary & treasurer.

Christine married David Surratt in 1979.

Christine & her husband, David, attend Lee Park Baptist Church in Monroe N.C.

Margaret joined HPLM in 2019. She has been volunteering at House of Pearls since 2015 as a therapist.

Margaret has a Bachelor of Music degree and taught public school before going back to school in 2007 to get a degree as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 2010.

Margaret and her husband Edward have been married 47 years, They have two children and three precious grandchildren.

They are members of Mill Grove Church in Indian Trail.

Margaret says what she loves about volunteering at HOP is that "she gets to see God transform lives right in front of her eyes." She has come to realize, too, that "she never feels closer to Jesus than when she is in session with the strong, brave and beautiful Pearls!!"

Cindy has been involved with House of Pearls since 2014.

"Like the majority of us my life has been affected by addiction. I commend the staff, the residents and the board for their involvement in this God honoring ministry."

In 2016, God guided Cindy, the board and even a few Pearls through the development of "Pearls Boutique".

Cindy and her husband Bruce attend Providence City Church in Indian Trail, NC and Restoration Church in Lancaster SC.

Cindy is a granny to 10 cherished littles who she celebrates daily.