Pastor Jay Thomas

Jay Thomas was born August 13, 1943 in Mexia, Texas.  He graduated from Mexia High School in May, 1961 and attended Navarro College and Texas A&M.  Jay started work at GAF Corporation in Dallas, Texas in May 1964 as quality control lab technician.  He later was promoted to plant chemist (Director of Quality Control), roofing mill shift foreman and supervisor of New Timberline Manufacturing Department.>

 

Jay married Verna Gentry on February 17, 1968.  They had three children:  Lance, Shelley and Ashley.

He was “saved” in February 1972 and called to the ministry about one year later.  Jay entered Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in September 1973 and graduated in December 1976; he graduated from the International Bible Institute and Seminary in November, 1980.

 

Jay pastored the First Baptist Church of Holland, Texas from January 1978 through October 1994.  During this time he served as Bell Baptist Association Church Achievement Director from 1979 to 1993; Central Texas Church Achievement Field Training Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 1980-90; Bell Baptist Vice Moderator 1983-85; Moderator 1986-87; Assist Team (Small Church) Consultant 1983-89; Budget Committee Chairman 1992; Advisory Board for Bell County Coop for Exceptional Children from 1982-88 and pastored First Baptist Church of Harker Heights from March 1995 to 2013.  He also served as Vice Moderator 2009—2011 for the Greater Fort Hood Baptist Association and served on the Harker Heights Mayor’s Mutual Ministry Forum to help problem soldiers from March 2009 to 2012.

 

Jay has received several Pace Setter Awards from the Baptist General Convention of Texas throughout the years.  He is currently employed at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Belton (formerly the Heartfield Funeral Home) and has worked there since May 2000.