Pastor Theresa M. Odom-Surgick was born in Albany, NY in a Christian home to Benjamin Odom and Delila Melrose Jacobs.

Theresa is a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is the Founder and Director of DMO (Delila Melrose Odom) Ministries & Creative Arts, a ministry whose mission is to help address internal suffering through God with creative arts. She is also the former pastor of the Star of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, NY.

Pastor Surgick is an accomplished writer and has written several books. Her first published book “My Life Tested: Earthly vs. Spiritual Things”, is a memoir of her life. She has also written three fiction novels – “Jalena Dances with God”, “Intrusion”, and “Vengeance (A Sister’s Sin – Her Brother’s Revenge)” cowritten by Antonio Coleman.

She has two non-fiction books. “Chronicles of Pure Praise & Worship in the Arts” is used as an aid to persons who perform creative arts, such as mime, liturgical dance, drama, and more. “Chronicles of Dynamic Faith” has been an encouragement to many people who are struggling and have lost faith. Her books can be found on Amazon in book form, kindle and on Audible.com. As a singer/songwriter, her album “Your Majesty” is found on ITunes.

She is the loving wife of Arnold Surgick and proud mother of Krystal-Rose, Antoine, Andrae and DeShawne Surgick. She is also the adopted mom of Christopher and Shayla Armand and grandmother of eight beautiful children.