REUNION CHURCH - Key Persons
Patrick Thomas grew up in the South Park area of Houston, TX, near HOBBY airport. The 4th of 5 kids, his parents, Pastor R.L. & Mrs. Mary Thomas, knew God had something special for him.
Patrick was heavily involved in Christian life on campus during his undergraduate degree & served as a national leader in the National Baptist Student Union under the direction of Dr. John Corbitt from 1992-1996. Patrick received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from Houston Baptist University (1994). After completing this degree, Patrick spent 3 years doing accounting while serving at various churches as a musician & band director.
Patrick has been involved in church music for more than 30 years. He is a skilled musician, singer, songwriter, & producer. He also has a passion for sharing the word of God and began his public preaching ministry in December 1997 at Mt. Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, under the leadership of Pastor A. Louis Patterson, Jr. While attending there, he also served on S.W.A.T., an evangelism team, directed a few choirs, and served as band director.
After receiving the call to preach, Patrick relocated to Dallas to attend Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). During his time on this campus, Patrick served as chapel musician, choir director, student council member, Black Student Fellowship president, & director of men's housing. In 2004, he received a Master of Theology degree in Pastoral Ministries and Bible Exposition.
Patrick returned to DTS in Summer 2015 to serve as director of Chapel Music & Worship. Patrick has also served as music director for events with iamsecond & e3partners. In 2012, Patrick completed his music project, "Under the Influence."
Patrick A. Thomas has been with Reunion Church, in Dallas, TX, since September 2001. During his time as full-time staff there, he has led small groups, discipleship ministry, men's ministry, and has mentored many who are now serving in various churches & ministries. Currently, he serves as Associate Pastor of Music, Worship, & Marriage Ministries.
Patrick and his amazing wife, Tiffany, have been blessed with four children, two boys and two girls, Nehemiah, Judah, Benjamin, and Esther.
Pastor Richard Ellis launched Reunion Church on October 5, 1997 in a small office in the Uptown area of Dallas, Texas. A group of 15 believers, devoted to the Lord, shared a common mission to reach the ALL of Dallas with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Embracing the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic diversity of the city, the church sought to be a place where anyone could come to hear about Jesus, plant roots in His truth, and learn how to live lives that bring glory to God.
In 1997, Richard and his family along with 11 others planted Reunion Church, a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, non-denominational church, in the heart of Dallas, Texas. Prior to that, he served for three years as Minister to Single Adults at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. For ten years Richard was the featured speaker for Lunch Talk, a weekly business luncheon, at the First Baptist Church of Dallas. He can be heard in Dallas on 100.7 FM weekdays at 6:30am and Sundays at 10:30am. Richard can also be heard on 444 radio stations in 45 states as well as richardellistalks.com. Richard is also one of the first stories to be featured on iamsecond.com.
Richard graduated from Baylor University in 1982, with a BA in Oral Communications and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1985 with an MDIV. He also did some of his Masters work at Dallas Theological Seminary. After graduating from seminary, he went into business for 10 years. Richard lived in England as a child while his father, Perry Ellis, was studying at Oxford University. His family then moved to Brazil where his parents were missionaries for many years. He is the sixth generation of pastors in his family.
Richard lives in Dallas with his wife, Rebecca. They have three daughters - Elizabeth (Clint), Victoria and Catherine.