OUR PASTOR

 

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reverend Dennis Earl Thomas is the third generation Pastor of the First Corinthian Baptist Church – the church where he was baptized, licensed and ordained. He continues the legacy of his grandfather: Rev. J.W. Thomas (45 years of pastorate 1937-1982) and his uncle: Rev. Silas Thomas (27 years of pastorate 1977-2004). 

Reverend Dennis E. Thomas is a 1974 graduate of Philadelphia’s esteemed Central High School. In 1978, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) from Eastern College (now Eastern University) with a double major in Sociology and Religion with a Minor Degree in Urban Studies. He earned his Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.) from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary) in 1981 and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Richmond Virginia Seminary in 1990.

Pastor Thomas’ ministerial experiences include: 

• Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Assistant to the Pastor (1977-1981)
• Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, Camden, New Jersey – Pastor for 5 ½ years (1981 – 1987)
• First African Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia - Pastor for exactly 20 years (1986-2006)
• First Corinthian Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Pastor (March, 2007)
• Regional Vice President of Virginia – Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention
• Chairman of the 2006 Host Committee, Richmond – Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention
• Chairman – Baptist General Convention, Commission on Missions since 2005
• Board Members – Baptist General Convention of Virginia; Stewardship Committee Chairperson
• Professor – Richmond Virginia Seminary since 1990
• Conference Preacher – National Pastors Conference; Baptist Theological Seminary, Gweru, Zimbabwe – 2000
• Member, Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity, 1987-2007
• Member, Baptist Ministers Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity, 1975-1987, 2007 - present
• Pastor Thomas preaches numerous revivals and teaches in conferences, retreats, and workshops across the country

Additional life experiences include:

• Selected at a Philadelphia audition to perform as the drummer for “Wonder” in July, 1973; weeks prior to Stevie Wonder’s near-fatal auto accident on August 6, 1973 near Durham, North Carolina
• Elected freshman and sophomore year President of the Class of 1978; Eastern College
• Director: Angels of Harmony (campus Gospel Choir) for three years; Eastern College
• Christian Drummer: the Heavenly Host; the Matthews Brothers; the Children of Light; the late Dannibelle Hall;  Larnelle Harris
• Founder and President of Stretch Out Ministries producing contemporary Christian concerts in the Delaware Valley in the early 1980’s
• Third Vice President of the Eastern District Baptist Congress of Christian Education – late 1970’s
• Holds Life Membership in NAACP, received in 2006
• Board Member, American Baptist Evangelism Team, 1990’s
• Contributing author of numerous works featured in denominational publications for the American Baptist Churches, Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missions, and the Baptist General Convention of Virginia 

Pastor Dennis Earl Thomas, M.Div. is married to the former Naomi Ruth Walker, a nurse from South Jersey. They are the proud parents of one son, one daughter-in-law and four grandchildren all residing in Richmond  Virginia.