Rev. Terry Dittmer is Director of Youth Ministry and responsible for administering the synodical youth organization, Lutheran Youth Fellowship. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Terry attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and graduated in 1970 with a degree in art and education. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary when it was in Springfield, Illinois and graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1974. In 1979 Terry began his career at the International Center in St. Louis, coordinating Youth programs, designing logos, producing, directing, and choreographing events at many Youth Gatherings and LYF Leadership Conferences, and also for the 150th LCMS Anniversary Celebration in 1997.

Terry is a published author, and he is the composer of many songs and hymns, several written especially for the synodical Youth Gatherings. A collection of his songs was published under the title, "Brothers and Sisters in Christ."

Dr. Parker recently moved to Houston, Texas, where is now the Headmaster at Lutheran South Academy . LSA a pre-3K through 12th grade, Christian school with 720 students who get to hear the good news of Jesus Christ each day. He will continue to serve God as a speaker through TrustGuy Ministries - check out the upcoming schedule!

He spent the past four seasons as the top assistant on the Drake women’s basketball staff. While there, he took over the recruiting coordinator duties after being in charge of player development, summer camps, and scheduling during his first 3 seasons at Drake. In addition to his recruiting coordinator duties, Dr. Parker coached the guards, scouted opponents, and spoke in the community. In each of the first 3 seasons, he coached a guard who received MVC All-Freshman honors. He was blessed to have recruited players who received many all-conf. honors and one First Team Academic All-American.

Before coming to Drake, Parker was the Director of Operation for the women's basketball team at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for one season.
Prior to his appointment at Nebraska, Parker was an assistant professor and head womens basketball coach for four seasons at Concordia University in Seward, Neb., where he led his team to the Sweet 16 in the 2002 NAIA Tournament. His 2002 squad posted the highest ranking in school history at No.6, while reeling off a then school-record 16 straight wins to start the season. The Bulldogs finished 28-6 and were established as an NAIA powerhouse, starting 3 freshman on that team. In four years, he doubled the win total of his first year while compiling a record of 80-41. Even more impressive was his team's academic success. The Bulldogs were named National WBCA Academic Team champions his last 3 years (1999-2000, 2000-01, and 2001-02) including all levels of NCAA and NAIA for two of those years with cummulative team grade point averages over 3.7. Concordia also became the first team in history to win the award 3 straight seasons in the NAIA. In addition, he coached an incredible 18 NAIA Academic All-Americans in his four years as head coach.

Before taking over the women’s program, Parker spent eight years teaching at Concordia and assisting the Concordia Men’s program, helping them to 3 conference championships, six straight NAIA Tournament appearances, and a Final Four appearance in 1992. As head JV coach, his teams compiled an 84-27 record which included a 31-game win streak. He coached the guards and helped 4 players attain NAIA All-American status.