Ask any pastor, and they’ll have a story about when they heard and answered God’s call to ministry. For Bob Thomas, that was around age 11.
Robert L. Thomas, Pastor, is Senior Pastor at Epworth United Methodist Church. Bob began his ministry at Epworth on July 1, 2006, his latest appointment in a full, rich career of ministry across Ohio. A graduate of Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, and Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, Bob was ordained after his first year of Divinity School.
He grew up with a strong family tradition of worship and never thought of anything else as a career. His older brother is also a United Methodist minister.
“I started my career preaching at 9, 10, and 11 o’clock,” said Bob, talking about his first parish, a three-point charge of Waterford, Watertown, and Salem United Methodist Churches. “The funny thing is that now, 30 years later [at Epworth], I’m still preaching three times -- 8:30, 9:45 and 11. I just don’t have to drive anywhere between services.”
Bob married his high-school sweetheart, Mary Beth. His eyes light up when he talks about her, or about their daughter, Kate.
It’s always tough for the Thomas’s to move, because there are boxes and boxes. Some are full of 4x6 cards, some full of old dot-matrix printer paper, and some full of newer printer paper. Bob admits with a nod he has never thrown a sermon away. Each takes about 8 hours to craft.
Myrtle Beach is one of his favorite places to catch a wave, along with Coco Beach in Florida. Bob loves to body surf in the ocean.
He’s a little different, too, because the Italian Wedding Soup that he considers his “signature dish” contains only chicken -- not those little meatballs.
Bob says Epworth is an amazing place. He says Epworth’s people have a very caring way about them, and the leaders of the church have a very professional manner. “I describe myself as ‘one of the pastors here,’” and not Senior Pastor, Bob says. “I really do count on team ministry at Epworth – Ken, me, and the laity.”
“It’s been a great year,” Bob says, talking about his first year at Epworth. Ask him the key to being a Senior Pastor, and he’ll tell you with a twinkle in his eye, “It’s staying out of the way, and letting God’s people do what God’s people will do.”
You can e-mail Bob at bobthomas(at)epworth.com.
