Pastor James Terrell (JT) Thomas, prior to the call to pastor at New Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, has served in the capacity of associate minister and pastor in various churches in Maywood, Illinois and Cleveland, Ohio:

  • First Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH –Interim pastor
  • Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH, Rev. Dr. Jawanza K. Colvin – Served as Associate Minister
  • Second Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH – Served as Pastor
  • New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH; the late, Pastor Bobby C. Ward – Served as Associate Minister
  • Second Baptist Church, Maywood, IL, Rev. Dr. Wallace W. Sykes, Associate Minister

J.T. was born to the parents of Deacon Q.T. Jr. & Mabel Thomas in Chicago, IL, where he matriculated academically and spiritually in Maywood, Illinois. He was baptized at Second Baptist Church on January 13, 1980 and received his calling to preach under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Wallace W. Sykes at Second Baptist Church on July 13, 1989. Under his pastorate, J.T. was granted the license to preach the gospel in 1990. He excelled academically at: Proviso East High School; Northwestern Business College in Accounting; Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration; Ashland Theological Seminary with a Master’s Degree of Practical Theology in 2012. J.T. is currently employed at Tata Technologies as a North America Finance/Tax Compliance Manager. J.T. has been employed at numerous national accounting firms and Fortune 500 companies in business corporate taxation.

J.T. relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in 1993 and joined New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church under the late Pastor Bobby C. Ward. He diligently worked under Pastor Ward’s leadership and was later ordained in the Gospel Ministry on July 26, 1998. He credits his joyous personality and heart for the people from Pastor Ward, and thinks of Pastor Ward as his mentor, adopted father, and friend. J.T. has developed numerous relationships with nationally known pastors and dignitaries who have allowed him to preach in major pulpits across the country.

J.T. served as pastor at Second Tabernacle Baptist Church for five years and shortly afterwards interim pastor at First Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, both in Cleveland, OH. He was blessed during both tenures to implement youth ministries, bible studies and community outreach programs that challenged the congregation to grow qualitatively and quantitatively. J.T. became a faculty member of the Progressive Baptist District of Cleveland, Ohio and faculty member, instructor and lecturer of the youth division of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, National Baptist Convention.

J.T. also participated in 2013 and in 2014 along with 49 other selected scholastic fellows from across the country to participate in the Inaugural Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ. This week-long intensive continuing education event promoted training, worship and fellowship in Black Theology’s role in the Black Church from preeminent scholars in theology and religion. J.T. is currently registered at Ecumenical Theology Seminary in Detroit, Michigan to attend in January 2019 as a Doctor of Ministry student.

The Pastor’s Wife, Lady Angela Hymes-Thomas, hails from Gary, Indiana. She is the daughter of Joseph & Margaret Hymes. Upon graduation from high school, Angela excelled at the distinguished HBCU Howard University in Washington, DC with a bachelor’s degree in Communications.

Angela is married to her best friend, J.T. Thomas. Angela is his best friend, his sugar in his coffee, his lemon in his lemonade, and his cream in his coffee, tougher than leather, and well put together!!

She is thrilled that God has graciously bestowed upon her a man of God, “tailor made” for her. God has terrifically blessed her, and through this union the limit is the sky on the blessings God has in store for them.

In her formative years, Lady Angela was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. Indisputably, Angela loves God and strives every day to permit God’s Glory to be manifested through her life and marriage.