Our Pastor: The Rev. Dr. James C. Thomas

The Reverend Doctor James C. Thomas is a native of Beloit, Wisconsin. Dr Thomas grew up in the Emmanuel Baptist Church and was active in the youth and music ministries of the church.

 

Dr. Thomas acknowledged his call into the gospel ministry while attending Mississippi State University and was licensed into the ministry by the Emmanuel Church in 1978. Following the leadership of his pastor (Dr. Floyd Prude, Jr.), Dr. Thomas enrolled in American Baptist College and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1981. He was ordained by the Emmanuel Church in the summer of that same year.

 

Continuing his preparation for ministry, Dr. Thomas enrolled in Vanderbilt Divinity School from which he received the Master of Divinity Degree (1984). Dr. Thomas also holds a Master of Science Degree (Guidance and Counseling) from Tennessee State University (1996). In May of 2006, Dr. Thomas graduated from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of

Theology of Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia with the Doctor of

Ministry Degree. Prior to entering the pastoral ministry, Dr. Thomas worked in post secondary education as Coordinator of Educational Talent Search at Tennessee State University and Director of Special Academic Programs at Middle Tennessee State University.

 

His early ministry includes serving as an Associate Minister at Westwood Baptist Church; Interim Pastor, Westwood Baptist Church (December 1986-June 1987) Nashville, TN; Associate

Minister, First Baptist Church, Gallatin, TN; District Missionary, East Fork District

Association in TN; and Assistant Chaplain, Adrian College, Adrian Michigan.

 

Prior to accepting the call to the pastorate of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church (1998), Dr.

Thomas served as the pastor of the Hopewell Baptist Church of Nashville, TN for six

years. As pastor of the Mt. Olivet Church Dr. Thomas has served on various community

and civic boards. A member of the Minnesota State Baptist Convention, Dr. Thomas has

served as both Dean and President of the Minnesota State Baptist Congress of Christian

Education.

 

Dr. Thomas is the proud father of Israel Jedidiah, Immanuelle Imani, and Gabrielle Jie Grace.