Social

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Elmo E. Thomas was born in 1948 in Brooklyn, New York. He was educated in the public school system of New York and graduated from George Westinghouse Technical High School. In 1965, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served 3 years of active duty and 3 years as an active reserve.

Elder Thomas was a radio repairman, having a military occupational specialty (MOS). He was also a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany for the remainder of his active duty service.

In 1968, he left his active duty service and relocated to Brooklyn where he went to work for the New York Telephone Company. Using his education and military training, he worked as a repairman and installer for the company. He was promoted to deskman in 1969 and became one of two African-Americans to hold that position at that time.

He left the phone company and worked in the trucking business for 15 years as a driver and finally, as a dispatcher. He then went to work for the New York City Transit Authority. He retired from that job after 25 years.

In 1969, Elder Thomas was blessed to marry the love of his life, Celeaster Galbrieth. They have been married for more than 49 years, and God willing, on June 21, 2019, they will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. From this union, they were blessed with two children: a son, Darrell, and a daughter, Lakeisha, both of whom have brought much joy to their lives. 

They are the proud grandparents of three wonderful grandsons, Terrell, Darrell Jr, and Kendall. They also have a great daughter-in-law, Lasonya, whom they love as their own.

Elder Thomas was called to the Ministry and licensed on September 19, 1993, at House of Faith, under the leadership of Apostle Douglas Johnson. He was ordained as an elder by Apostle Johnson on July 23, 2000. Elder Thomas was reaffirmed as an elder by Bishop Joseph Williams of Christ Church International and the Joint College of Pentecostal Bishops on September 25, 2010.

On April 20, 2013, he was certified as a chaplain by the Burroughs Divinity Bible School. In July 2013, they relocated to Columbia, South Carolina where they joined Greater Refuge Temple Church of God in Christ. Pastor Thomas was reaffirmed as an elder by the Church of God in Christ by the Jurisdictional Bishop Johnnie J. Johnson on March 20, 2015. 

Elder Thomas knew 15 years ago that he was called to be a pastor on November 16, 2018. He accepted that calling, and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, God gave him the name House of Praise Ministries. God moved swiftly and put in place all that was needed and gave the theme: The Year of a New Beginning.