Brother C. Parker Thomas
Born in 1919 in northern Florida, USA, Bro. Thomas was put through a difficult “school” by the God who would later reveal Himself to him. Due to a broken home his childhood consisted of being “bounced around” from one place to another. No doubt this contributed to his public school education being cut short. In addition to his having no real home, the Great Depression came along and made life difficult as it did for so many.
His experiences included life in an orphanage, tuberculosis, a bad auto accident that all but took his life and brought about terrible suffering, as well as the heartache of the broken home. God had a great design in all of these experiences, however. Among other things, they served to soften and prepare his heart for the ministry that lay ahead, though he was not aware of it at the time. The things he went through gave Bro. Thomas a great compassion and understanding of others in the difficult things they experience in this life.
He testified that even as a boy he had a fear of God that caused him to reflect seriously at times about the things of God and being right with Him and ready to face eternity. He even recalled discussing being born again with his wife and others on various occasions. However it was not yet time. God chose to reveal Himself to Bro. Thomas when he was on up in his twenties and married with two children.
When the appointed time came he found himself in a gospel meeting in which he was basically tricked into coming forward in response to the invitation! When he protested that he hadn’t come there to join their church, he was taken into a side room where the minister talked with him privately. When he was asked if he wanted to be saved, he replied, “Sure.” Then the Lord caused the minister to put the question a little differently. He said, “No, I mean do you want to be saved NOW?” That question, inspired of the Lord, caused Bro. Thomas to reach the point of surrender.
