David Thomas
Minister to Senior Adults

David Thomas was reared in the church. His father was active as choir director and a layman in their church, Will Rogers United Methodist Church of Tulsa. At 15, David committed his life to Christ and to the ministry. Just six weeks later his father was killed in a plane crash. On top of that, his mother was a struggling alcoholic.

Now he was living with his grandmother and for a period of time, a teenage David went through a rebellious stage, feeling both guilt and anger. "I got away from the church. I got in with a gang and into some trouble.

One friend said to me when we were drinking, 'Dave, I thought you were going to be a pastor.' That embarrassed me. "There was this girl next door. I couldn't date her, but I could go to church with her. It was there that I realized that my life was a mess and I accepted Jesus as Savior of my life.

One Sunday night in church it was like flashback to the time of my original commitment to God. 'It's time,' I thought. I placed my life back into His hands and it was like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. It was like heaven."

Back in the fold, Dr. Thomas began ministry at his uncle's church, Sheridan Avenue United Methodist Church, where he served as youth director and assistant pastor. "It was there that I met Patty Stevens (later to become his wife)."

While a senior in high school, he began pastoring the newly organized St. John's United Methodist Church in north Tulsa. "There I learned what it meant to lean on the Holy Spirit," said Dr. Thomas. Serving as a pastor captured his heart and it's a role he fulfills to this day.

Following graduation, he attended Oklahoma City University. In 1962, he graduated from Perkins School of Theology at SMU and he later earned his Doctor of Divinity degree from OCU. Following his ordination he pastored churches in Tulsa, Shawnee, Oklahoma City and Bartlesville.

After retiring following seven years as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Bartlesville, he and his wife, Patty, moved to Tulsa where he assumed a post-retirement position as Minister to Senior Adults with Asbury UMC.

Dr. Thomas has done a remarkable job in building the senior adults ministries through Tweenagers, Bible studies, and other various programs and special events designed to serve seniors. He helped start the Asbury Singing Ambassadors, a strong and joyful singing group, composed of some 178 senior voices. Additionally, Dr. Thomas lends his excellent vocal talents as occasional soloist. The goal of that choir is more than entertainment, it's a vehicle to help seniors grow and reach out to others.

Aside from his role as pastor, Dr. Thomas enjoys reading and study. His favorite authors are Max Lucado, Emerson Fosdick, and Chuck Swindoll. He loves to teach, likes to play golf, and finds it relaxing to work in the yard. He quickly adds that he loves just "being with Patty." He sees Patty as the perfect mate for him and feels she has been a real blessing in his life and ministry. "Patty has a unique way of relating to people-all kinds of people. She can identify with them and she sincerely cares for them," he said.

He finds that pastoring people and relating to them in their needs brings him pure joy. He loves teaching, a gift he shares when he teaches the Friendship Community as well as various mid-week Bible studies. Dr. Thomas and Patty came to Asbury in September 2000, His passion for people and his devotion to His Lord has been aptly demonstrated in all whose lives he has touched.