Terry is a native of South Carolina where he attended Clemson University. While in college he came to the realization of his sin and need for a savior and surrendered his life to the lordship of Christ.  In time he sensed God's call to the ministry and transferred to Columbia Bible College (currently Columbia International University), where he received a BA in biblical studies. Later he received his Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. After serving in a couple of churches in South Carolina, Pastor Baxley moved to Southern Maryland with his wife, Beth, and five children, to trust God to plant Cornerstone. "I can't imagine being anywhere else," declares Baxley, "God has grown such a wonderful church family who love one another and want to reach out to our community and world with the love of Christ."