The Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas to Preach on Sunday, July 30

by Tanner Pickett | Montreat News Release

Sunday morning worship in Montreat’s Anderson Auditorium is a highlight for many in the Montreat community and greater Swannanoa Valley. Every effort is made for these services to model innovative, creative and new ways to worship and gather in God’s name. Recognizing the talents and service outreach represented within this mountain community, it is a time to celebrate together and hear God’s word from noted preachers and educators across denominational and geographic lines.

Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas

The guest preacher for Sunday, July 30, will be the Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas, professor of homiletics at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

His sermon title, “A Grain of Sand,” is taken from Psalm 139. “I picked this scripture because I am amazed at the thoughts and revelation of God. The text says that if we would number the thoughts of God, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

“God reveals God’s thoughts through the revelation of Scripture and Scripture is so rich with God’s thought that I am humbled at the fact that the most amazing insight that I receive from God is nothing but one grain on the endless seashore of the thoughts of God.”

Dr. Thomas has found passion and purpose in the challenge to preach and teach the gospel in creative and relevant sermonic forms, offering hope for life in Jesus Christ. This call has led him to serve with distinction as the senior pastor for two congregations: New Faith Baptist Church of Matteson, Illinois, and Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church of Memphis, Tennessee, for 18 years and 13 years, respectively.

He has served as mentor to doctoral and masters-level students at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and at Memphis Theological Seminary in Tennessee. He has found a home at Christian Theological Seminary and was the visionary behind the establishment of the first PhD program in African-American preaching.

He is author of several books, including They Like to Never Quit Praisin’ God: The Role of Celebration in Preaching, and he is co-editor of Preaching with Sacred Fire: An Anthology of African American Sermons, 1750 to the Present.

Thomas holds a PhD in communications from the University of Memphis, a DDiv from Christian Theological Seminary, DMin degrees from Chicago Theological Seminary and United Theological Seminary, a MDiv from Chicago Theological Seminary, and a MA in African-Caribbean studies from Northeastern Illinois University.

All of the summer Sunday services in the series are at 10:30 a.m. in Anderson Auditorium, just off Assembly Drive in Montreat. Child care is available for children 6 months through kindergarten at the Updike Child Care Center on Texas Road.

As is the summer tradition, the community is invited to the lunch buffet at 11:45 a.m. in the Assembly Inn’s Galax Dining Room following worship. Lunch tickets can be purchased at the Assembly Inn front desk.

For more information or to learn about other worship, educational and recreational opportunities at Montreat, visit www.montreat.org or call 828-669-2911.