The Full Story
Dr. Lawrence grew up in suburban Milwaukee and was fortunate to attend the same school system in Thiensville/Mequon from kindergarten through high school. His life was dramatically changed when he became a Christian during his senior year in high school (1970) through a home Bible study taught by a dear, gifted lady named Wyn Couchman.
He went to Rice University but was drafted out of college after only one year. As a contentious objector, he fulfilled his selective service obligation in a Christian street ministry in Modesto, California, where he met and married the love of his life, Penny, in 1974.
The new couple moved to Wheaton, Illinois where Tom attended Wheaton College and Penny worked as a nurse, later to become a nurse/midwife. Majoring in Biblical Studies, Tom graduated with highest honors in 1977. Awards included the Baker Book House Award given to the outstanding student in that major and the award for “Excellence in the Study of Hebrew.”
The original plan was to do graduate studies in New Testament but the family started growing: Carice, daughter one, was born in 1976, when Tom was a sophomore in college, and Hannah came along 2 years later. Tom went to work painting, selling pianos, finishing furniture, selling printing presses, programming computers and selling nutritional products, among other things. While in Wheaton, Tom and Penny were home group leaders in their church, leading Bible study and doing counseling.
Later in life (1986) Tom went to medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Graduating from medical school in 3 years, he finished in the top 5% of his class, did an internship at Baylor College of Medicine and a residency in ophthalmology at UTMB, Galveston.
After his training, now 40 years old, Dr. Tom practiced at the world-renowned St. Lukes Cataract and Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs, Florida from 1993 to 1998. He then spent 23 years in solo practice in Tallahassee, Florida. His daughter, Carice, was his administrator. Three of his grandkids worked with him, along with their friends. It was a happy time!
His love for Jesus has grown over the (now more than 50!) years through daily study of the Scriptures which gave him life as a teenager. While in Tallahassee he served as an elder of Trinity Community Church and had opportunity to preach on occasion. He shared the sermons with his patients. Some of the sermons are included on this website for your enjoyment.
Penny and Tom are currently retired and live in Lake Lure, North Carolina. They have 2 daughters, 7 grand children and 2 great grandchildren. They are busy remodeling the house, walking the dogs, playing golf and tennis, and attending Missio Dei, a wonderful church in Asheville, NC. Life is good because God is good!
He went to Rice University but was drafted out of college after only one year. As a contentious objector, he fulfilled his selective service obligation in a Christian street ministry in Modesto, California, where he met and married the love of his life, Penny, in 1974.
The new couple moved to Wheaton, Illinois where Tom attended Wheaton College and Penny worked as a nurse, later to become a nurse/midwife. Majoring in Biblical Studies, Tom graduated with highest honors in 1977. Awards included the Baker Book House Award given to the outstanding student in that major and the award for “Excellence in the Study of Hebrew.”
The original plan was to do graduate studies in New Testament but the family started growing: Carice, daughter one, was born in 1976, when Tom was a sophomore in college, and Hannah came along 2 years later. Tom went to work painting, selling pianos, finishing furniture, selling printing presses, programming computers and selling nutritional products, among other things. While in Wheaton, Tom and Penny were home group leaders in their church, leading Bible study and doing counseling.
Later in life (1986) Tom went to medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Graduating from medical school in 3 years, he finished in the top 5% of his class, did an internship at Baylor College of Medicine and a residency in ophthalmology at UTMB, Galveston.
After his training, now 40 years old, Dr. Tom practiced at the world-renowned St. Lukes Cataract and Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs, Florida from 1993 to 1998. He then spent 23 years in solo practice in Tallahassee, Florida. His daughter, Carice, was his administrator. Three of his grandkids worked with him, along with their friends. It was a happy time!
His love for Jesus has grown over the (now more than 50!) years through daily study of the Scriptures which gave him life as a teenager. While in Tallahassee he served as an elder of Trinity Community Church and had opportunity to preach on occasion. He shared the sermons with his patients. Some of the sermons are included on this website for your enjoyment.
Penny and Tom are currently retired and live in Lake Lure, North Carolina. They have 2 daughters, 7 grand children and 2 great grandchildren. They are busy remodeling the house, walking the dogs, playing golf and tennis, and attending Missio Dei, a wonderful church in Asheville, NC. Life is good because God is good!