PASTOR DARRELL L. THOMAS

 

REVEREND DARRELL L. THOMAS, SON OF THE LATE MARY E THOMAS AND THE LATE REVEREND JAMES M. THOMAS, SR., WAS BORN IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK.  HE IS THE FIFTH OF SEVEN SONS AND THE FOURTH TO ACCEPT THE CALL TO MINISTRY.

 

HE IS A 1978 HONOR GRADUATE OF LACKAWANNA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.  HE CONTINUED HIS EDUCATION AT THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WHERE HE RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.

 

IN OCTOBER 1985, REVEREND THOMAS WAS CALLED TO THE MINISTRY AT THE MOUNT OLIVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN LACKAWANNA, NEW YORK WHERE HIS BROTHER REVEREND RONALD F. THOMAS, SR. WAS THE PASTOR.  HE WAS LICENSED TO PREACH IN DECEMBER OF 1985.  REVEREND THOMAS SERVED AS A YOUTH DIRECTOR, CHOIR SUPERVISOR AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER WHILE ASSOCIATE MINISTER AT THE MOUNT OLIVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.  HE ALSO SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE GREAT LAKES BAPTIST ASSOCIATION CONGRESS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF WESTERN, NEW YORK.

 

HE HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AND FAMILY VALUES AS HE WORKED AS A CRISIS COUNSELOR AT THE HOPEVALE UNION FREE SCHOOL IN HAMBURG, NEW YORK.

 

REVEREND THOMAS SERVED AS PASTOR OF EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK FROM JANUARY 1989 UNTIL OCTOBER 1999.  WHILE THERE, HE MET AND MARRIED HIS BEAUTIFUL HIGH-SPIRITED WIFE, THE FORMER ADRIENNE TEELE.  THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN THIS UNION SINCE MARCH OF 1997 AMD WERE BLESSED WITH THEIR DAUGHTER RIAN MALAIKA THOMAS IN 2013.

 

IN JULY 2000, REVEREND THOMAS WAS CALLED TO UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.  UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AT UNION, NEW MINISTRIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, INCLUDING THE FOOD MINISTRY, VESSELS OF PRAISE DANCE MINISTRY, GREETERS MINISTRY, SENIOR MINISTRY, INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY, OVER 21 MINISTRY, WOMEN’S MINISTRY, MEN’S MINISTRY, CHILDREN’S CHURCH, AND CLOTHING MINISTRY.   HIS MOTTO IS TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE!