AGROS MINISTRIES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

AGROS Ministries is now updated and improved.  Please visit us at www.smallChurch.com!

Childhood

James G. Thomas Jr. was born on August 21, 1961 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the first born son of James and Shirley Thomas who had been married for 5 years prior to his birth. Jim would have a sister born into the family 2 years later in 1963. They would be the only 2 children of James and Shirley and the only grandchildren of Guy and Agnes Thomas, also of Louisville.

Jim’s father had spent 2 years studying for the ministry, but would not finish college because he and Shirley had decided to marry. It would be a decision that they would later regret, and a mistake they were determined their children would not repeat. Jim’s father was employed at Texaco Inc., which would play a major part in the family’s life. His father accepted a transfer to Lexington, Kentucky, and then to Lima, Ohio by the time Jim was in kindergarten. Jim was removed from all close family other than his parents for the rest of his life.

He was raised in a very conservative Christian home and faithfully attended church each week. His parents would always treat him as an adult and expect him and his sister to act accordingly. This allowed Jim an unusual maturity for his age, but also created a tremendous burden to never disappoint his parents. The familial relationship was a central part of his life.

Jim remained in Lima, Ohio throughout his childhood and would do the normal things all kids would do. Much time was spent playing with neighborhood kids, boy scouts, ball teams, church activities, etc. He also spent a large amount of time watching television. This was standard family entertainment for everyone. His father was pursuing a career and all of the things that men enjoy (golf, flying lessons, etc.), and would later feel a tremendous amount of guilt for not spending time with his children, but this was never felt by Jim.

Adolescence

Halfway through Jim’s eighth grade year, his father was transferred to Detroit, Michigan. This would create a new situation for Jim, since he would have to make new friends, adjust to a new school, and deal with city crime issues that he had never before addressed. Jim finished his eighth grade year in the public school system and his parents decided to send him and his sister to a Christian school almost 30 minutes away. This would mean a great sacrifice on the whole family, including his mother who would go back to work.

This new school provided Jim the environment in which he could excel. It was through the school (Temple Christian 1200 students) and the church (Temple Baptist 4000 people) that Jim would develop an ability to adapt to almost any situation. It was in this setting that Jim came to know Christ as his Savior, learn to preach, and develop a heart for ministry. He was exposed to some of the finest preachers in America each Sunday under the leadership of G.B. Vick and later Dr. A.V. Henderson. Jim was involved leading a weekly nursing home ministry. He got involved in musical singing group which would tour throughout the year and started entering speech contests. However, things were about to change drastically Jim’s senior year.

At the end of his junior year, his father informed the family that Texaco was going to transfer him to Chicago, Illinois. Jim would have to finish his senior year at a new school. By this time, Christian education had become a conviction rather than a preference and a good Christian school (Marquette Manor) and church (Marquette Manor Baptist Church) were located before a house was purchased. This would again prove to be a turning point in Jim’s life. It was at this time that Jim would struggle with 2 key quetsions (1) Was God calling him to the ministry? (2) Did God want him at Bob Jones University? Both of these were issues that were a real personal struggle. By the end of the year, Jim was convinced the answer to both questions was yes.

Adulthood

Jim attended Bob Jones University to pursue God’s calling into the ministry. It was during this time that Jim would meet his future wife (Jean Vaughan) and develop a love for the theater and public speaking. He majored in Bible with a speech minor and a public speaking proficiency. He would leave Bob Jones with a number of honors for leadership, (including Who’s Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities), and numerous speech accomplishments. Between high school and college Jim would be involved in 4 Shakespeare plays, performing both lead and supporting characters, travel on a University drama team for 17 weeks, receive a state and national award for first place in preaching, and be a finalist in a University preaching contest for High School students.

He was married on December 17, 1983, 6 months after graduation. At the time he was teaching Bible and speech in a Christian high school in Petersberg, VA, while his wife was employed teaching elementary classes. Jim would leave teaching after that first year to go into full time camp work at Camp Joy in Whitewater, Wisconsin. He would serve as public relations manager and assistant the program director at that camp for 2 and 1/2 years. During this time he would be able to use his creative abilities to put together a successful camp program.

Jim had tired of the frustration of not being involved in the lives of the people on a regular basis so he decided to enter into the youth ministry on a full time basis. He moved to Sioux City, Iowa where he would serve as a youth pastor at Billy Sunday Tabernacle for almost 6 years. During those 6 years, he saw the birth of his own 2 sons (Jimmy and Joshua) and he saw that the demands of the ministry were almost destroying his marriage. It was very clear that Jim was task driven and married more to the ministry than his wife. He made the decision to leave the ministry and planned to return a few years later when his family was in proper perspective.

After about 6 months in sales, Jim’s desire for the ministry increased. Assured that the confidence was built back within his marriage, Jim returned to a pastorate on a part time basis. The Lord lead him to a small farm community who understood the needs of a hurting pastor. They decided that they would minister to him, as he ministered to them. That was June of 1991, and Jim and his family currently still serve that small community on a full time basis.

Jim is now working on a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies at Grace University in Omaha, NE. If you would like more information regarding my ministry background, see my tribute to the army of the anonymous.

This page has been accessed 642 times.

Back to Information About This Ministry

Back to Agros Ministries Home Page