Posted: 1/20/06
California pastor to direct
BGCT leadership team
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas has appointed California pastor Reggie Thomas to direct its leadership development efforts.
Thomas will assume the role Feb. 27 when Jan Daehnert retires as interim director of the BGCT leadership team.
Thomas takes over a recently formed convention team responsible for identifying and developing leaders.
| Reggie Thomas |
Thomas will lead the convention's increased emphasis on raising younger generations of leaders, said Ron Gunter, BGCT chief operating officer and associate executive director.
Gunter described Thomas as a creative thinker with experience in Texas, who will strengthen Texas Baptists' ministries.
“He knows Texas Baptists,” Gunter said. “He's excited about what Texas Baptists are doing. Leadership is at the very center of who he is. He is passionate about discovering and developing leaders for the local church.”
Thomas' leadership team will work hand-in-hand with the convention's team of congregational strategists to meet the needs of Texas Baptist churches, he added.
The leadership team's responsibilities also include chaplaincy counseling and psychological services, intentional interim ministry, ministering in crises and personality testing.
Leadership is the key to the success of congregations in the 21st century, Thomas said. It is vital that leaders set vision, act with integrity, take courageous stands and influence people relationally.
He looks forward to developing lay and vocational leaders through conferences and individual consultations. Everything the leadership team does will be designed to meet the needs of Texas Baptists, he added.
“I believe leadership is going to be the cutting edge of effectiveness in the church,” Thomas said.
“Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
Thomas re-turns to the BGCT after serving as pastor of First Baptist Church in Walnut Valley, Calif., since 2000. The congregation serves people from a variety of backgrounds. About 20 percent of the church is Asian and another 20 percent is Hispanic and AfricanAmerican.
Prior to that, Thomas was pastor at First Baptist Church in Rancho Cordova, Calif., four years. During his tenure, the congregation baptized 130 people and grew from about 100 to 250 people in worship each week.
He also has served in a variety of other positions, including executive director of Central Baptist Association in Al-buquerque, N.M., and as a church development consultant for the BGCT, helping church starters carry out their ministries.
Thomas holds a bachelor's de-gree from Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Jeannine, have two daughters, Amanda and Emilee.
The leadership team can be reached at (214) 828-5185.
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