Gil Thomas

After trusting Christ as his personal savior at the age of 12, Gil worked for six summers at Bethany Baptist Camp in western New York, serving as junior counselor, dishwasher, program director, lifeguard, and finally as the assistant director. It was there that his love for ministry was born and cultivated, which led him to Baptist Bible College in Pennsylvania.

Gil was heavily involved in music while at BBC as he majored in missions. During his last two years, he served as part-time pastor of youth and music in Binghamton.

After graduation in 1982, Gil served as an interim pastor for seven months before going to Grand Rapids, MI, where he studied at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, and then entered the Calvary Baptist School of Church Ministries. It was at Calvary that Gil met Denise, and they were married in 1983.

After the year-long internship at Calvary, Gil and Denise joined ABWE in 1984. They began their first term of missionary service in 1986. During the next 23 years, Gil was integrally involved in starting four churches in Portugal and served as the Team Leader fourteen of those years. Also, during his service in Portugal, Gil helped to train missionaries in European countries. During his time as a missionary, Gil received a Master of Ministry degree, graduating with highest honors. In 2009, Gil and Denise came to Harrisburg to train missionaries and develop resources as the International Director of Good Soil Ministries. After returning to the States to work with Good Soil, Gil received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Clarks Summit University in Pennsylvania.