John L. Thomas Jr.

Dr. Thomas is an ordained minister in the National Baptist Church, USA, Inc. He started preaching at 17-years-old in a Baptist church in Hollister, North Carolina. After graduating from High School he moved to Oklahoma to enroll in Oral Roberts University. After graduation he began seminary at Phillips Theological Seminary, completing his M.Div. in 1991 and a D.Min. in 2000. His ministry has included many different roles. For 9 years he was the pastor's assistant at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also trained hospital chaplains as an ACPE Certified Educator from 1998-Present and spent 13 years as a reserved chaplain in the United States Air Force. In 2000, he began teaching seminary at Phillips until he was tenured Professor of Practical Theology, then retired from that position in 2018 to become Director of Spiritual Care and Clinical Pastoral Education at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina. Dr. Thomas served two long terms as interim pastor at historical African-American churches in Oklahoma. He is married to Alexis, an ordained minister, researcher, and church consultant. His son, John III, resides with them in South Carolina, and his daughter, Elizabeth is deceased. His other publications include a journal article entitled, CULTURAL TYPING: ANOTHER PATHWAY TOWARD CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN PASTORAL CARE (American Journal of Pastoral Counseling. 2003) and a recent novel, YESHUA, THE UNTOLD STORY. 2021. Email at jlthomasjr1@gmail.com