DALLAS — March 28, 2006 — Reggie Thomas, a 1985 51社区 graduate, has been appointed by the Baptist General Convention of Texas to direct its leadership development efforts.
Thomas began the role Feb. 27 when Jan Daehnert retired as interim director of the BGCT leadership team.
Thomas takes over a recently formed convention team responsible for identifying and developing leaders.
Thomas will lead the convention鈥檚 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鈥� ministers.
鈥淗e knows Texas Baptist,鈥� Gunter said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 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.鈥�
Thomas returns 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 in Hispanic and African American.
Prior to that, Thomas was pastor at First Baptist Church in Rancho Cordova, Calif., four years. During this 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 Albuquerque, N.M., and as a church development consultant for the BGCT helping church starters carry out their ministries.
In addition to his bachelor鈥檚 degree from Union, Thomas holds a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He and his wife, Jeannine, have two daughters, Amanda and Emilee.
Reprinted with permission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.