“Teddy”, as many refer to him, was born and raised in the Princeton church and spent the first part of his ministry working with the youth in Princeton, Florida and Wichita, Kansas. Before leaving for Wichita First in 1984, Ted served on the Southern Florida District Youth Council from 1973-1984 as Teen Director, Junior High Director, Senior High Director and District President. He also served as the Southeast Regional Representative to the General N.Y.I. Council from 1980-1984. While in Wichita, he studied at Wichita State University and Friends University and was ordained as an Elder in 1990 by Dr. Eugene Stowe. He has been a member of the District Sunday School Ministries Board since 1999, District Prime Time Director since 2002, a member of the District Finance Committee since 2000 and a District Advisory Board member since 2004. He is currently the District Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International Chairman.
With his wife, Sharon Joy, by his side, Ted has been the Senior Pastor at Fort Pierce First since 1998 where his son Jamey serves as his Associate Pastor with his wife, Suzanna and newest addition to the family, James Ted Underwood, III. Younger son Jody and wife Roxanne live in Tennessee where Jody serves as staff pianist at their church in Murfreesboro.
