Born and raised in Chesapeake, VA, Pastor Barbara Thomas is a woman of great strength, compassion and integrity. She gracefully balances the roles of mother, daughter, sister, mentor, friend, and Pastor of Spirit of Life Church International. Pastor Thomas accepted the Lord at the early age of 13 and was filled with the Holy Spirit at the age of 16. She is a testimony of how the grace and power of God will be made manifest in your life if you hearken diligently to His voice.

In 1986, Pastor Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications and a Minor in History from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. While at James Madison University, she met her husband, the late Bishop Antonio D. Thomas.

Pastor Thomas is a profound and prolific teacher of the Gospel and her unique style of ministry will challenge you to rise to the next dimension in God’s way of operating. Her practical teachings of the Word of God will encourage the hearer to live a balanced and uncomplicated life. Whether ministering to men or women, her mission is to encourage the hearts of people and to assist in equipping them for fulfilling their destiny God’s way. Her daily prayer is that the Lord will use her to bring His people into Godly maturity and that we all will be used to draw the sinner to Christ Jesus, for only through Him can men be saved.

Ministerially, Pastor Thomas was licensed into the ministry in 1996 and was ordained as an Elder in 1997. She also supported her husband, Bishop Antonio Thomas through 2 pastorates before he founded Spirit of Life Church International. With the spirit of excellence, order, and prosperity, Spirit of Life Church became a great training ground for believers young and old. After serving 3 years as Assistant Pastor, she was elevated to the position of Pastor of Spirit of Life Church International on Sunday, October 9, 2011. She considers it a privilege and honor to step into the position that her esteemed late husband, Bishop Antonio Thomas held and more recently Dr. David C. Forbes, Jr. Pastor Thomas is sold out to doing the work of the ministry for the Glory of God and the edification of His people.

Pastor Thomas is the blessed mother of 2 daughters, Sonya and Kayla, and one son, Michael.