Deborah Lanham

Deborah began her role as Youth Minister at Faith Harbor in April 2025, but she has lived in nearby Sneads Ferry for 15 years. Born abroad, raised in Maryland, and having moved around quite a bit both domestically and abroad as a military wife, Deborah was presented with life here as a single mom to raise her 3 children: James, Ryan, and Natalie. As a family unit, they served as a therapeutic (trauma-informed) home to help raise dozens of foster children over a span of 8 years.

She has served as an extremely active member in the community, in various youth programs, church and community groups, and at Dixon High School supporting the arts programs. Although her youngest has launched off to WCU, Deb has her 3 cats for company, plus her young adults Bible study group, hosted privately for years now, to keep her informed and youthful.

Deb earned her BA in Philosophy from Sweet Briar College and in the fall of 2019, she began her seminary studies at Denver Seminary. In May 2022, she graduated with honors with her Master of Divinity degree. Before coming to Faith Harbor, Deborah also served as the Site Coordinator for the Sneads Ferry Senior Center for 2.5 years. A wide variety of jobs over her lifetime has left her with a surprisingly wide range of skills, but serving in ministry and working with youth is where her heart truly lies. She loves theology, languages, teaching the Bible, dancing, nerdy shows and games, costuming, and outdoor adventures.

While she’s genuinely thrilled to be using more of her education, experience, and skills to serve the Kingdom, Deb readily admits that she falls short of the glory of God. Her extensive past is full of harassment, coercion, assault, trauma, neglect and abuse (even within the church, broadly speaking – not FH) – and so much loss. It’s a past full of failed, sinful coping skills. But it’s that past that God has used to give her gracious and compassionate insight to serve others.

“We love because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19