Meet Tyler Thomas
Meet our new CFB Student Pastor, Tyler Thomas, in this Q&A:
Tell us about your family.
Hello Canton FB, my name is Tyler and my wife’s name is Candler. We will be married for five years this coming September 2022. I grew up in Mississippi where I attended Mississippi College. Candler grew up in the McDonough area. Candler had the opportunity to play collegiate basketball at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. While we were both in college, we both attended and were involved at FBC Jackson. Candler and I met at our college pastor’s home. We dated throughout college and I proposed in January of 2017. Later that year we were married. I (Tyler) have a big family, I am number 5 of 6 children, with a lot of nieces and nephews. Candler’s parents live in west Georgia and she has two sisters.
Tell us about your education.
I graduated with a degree in Exercise Science from Mississippi College (MC). MC is a smaller DII Christian University that is supported through the MS Baptist Foundation. Since graduating from college, I have served as a student pastor!
What is one of your favorite things to do outside of work/church?
Currently, our favorite thing to do is ride road bikes. This past year we randomly purchased road bikes to participate in a cycling ride across the state of Iowa. We trained for months and rode our bikes well over 1000 miles in order to be ready for the ride. Candler and I rode with my brother Scott and his wife Carley, and we had a blast. We were only 4 of 20k+ people riding their bikes. We enjoy riding together to be able to exercise and see areas that we often miss because we drive past too quickly.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently finishing my Mdiv through NOBTS, so the course work and required reading consumes my time. If anyone is interested in studying Hebrew or Lifespan discipleship with me, let’s talk!
What is something God is currently teaching you?
God is constantly revealing his kindness to me everyday. The people and students of Canton FBC have been used by God whether they realize it or not. Full-time ministry can be an overwhelming responsibility at time, and having people come alongside to encourage and support are vital for pastors.
Tell us about your call to full-time ministry.
My dream since middle school was to be an athletic trainer. I loved sports but also enjoyed helping athletes recover from injuries. Throughout high school and college I worked and studied to make my dream a reality. As I was in college some of the doors that needed to be open for me to pursue athletic training began to close. I sought the Lord’s guidance and wandered what was opening. One semester at MC, I randomly took a Bible class to fill an elective slot for my degree. Through that class and semester, the Lord began opening my eyes to full time ministry. I had never been opposed to ministry, but it was never I was thought I wanted to do. The Lord opened doors and allowed me to begin serving in ministerial roles. God has affirmed this calling through leading us to Canton First Baptist.
What are you looking forward to most about being student pastor?
Youth ministry gets to do a lot of things! Summer camps, mission trips, crazy themed nights, lock-ins, which I look forward to all of those things (except maybe the lock-ins, I need sleep). But the things I look forward to the most are the relationships that I will get to make and build with students, parents, and other adults. God allows us to be in relationships with others for a reason, to encourage and equip one another. I look forward to the relationships that we will build and those whom will be and are apart of our lives.
What is something positive that struck you when first coming to CFB?
Canton First Baptist is in a prime location to continue to make a massive impact in the community. Knowing that one of the middle schools is around the corner and that the future home of Cherokee HS is coming soon around the corner, makes me excited to see the continued partnership between CFB and the Cherokee County schools.
What do you like about the Canton area?
My early childhood days were in Knoxville, TN. Everywhere we went we could see the Smokey Mountains. With Canton at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it feels like a part of my childhood that I get to relive. There is a peace that we have when we are in Canton!
What is the future of student ministry in Canton? This is the million dollar question! My answer will be that we are going to expect God to do something that we never could have imagined happening. Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. My prayer is that we as a church and student ministry are obedient to His calling and that we ask and expect God to work in ways we could never have thought possible.
Why should our congregation care about student ministry, and what are some ways people can be involved?
Canton First Baptist should care about students! God created them, died for them, and called them, so the least we can do is love on students! Many people say a healthy student ministry is a sign of a healthy church. I hope that Canton First Baptist will continue to support the student ministry by loving on students when they see them at church and in the community. I hope that members will continue to support through faithful giving so that students can attend camps, retreats, and discipleship programs. Lastly, I hope that members will be involved when we make strides towards loving on students in the schools, in whatever capacity that looks like.
What are some ways the congregation can pray for you, your family, and your ministry?
First, Candler and I are so thrilled to be in Canton and working alongside of those already hard at work. We want to give a big word of love and appreciation towards Dave and Lonnie. I can tell when a youth group has been loved and ministered to well, and there is no doubt that the Hall’s did just that. The people of Canton First Baptist can pray for our transition. We are in the process of selling our home, so pray that that goes smoothly. Candler is in the process of searching for a new place to work. Candler currently works as a Physician Assistant at a family practice in Henry County. We are praying the Lord will open up opportunities for her to fit in and be comfortable. Lastly, pray that the Lord would continue to open opportunities for us to be a light in the Canton community.
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If you would like to say welcome or send a note of encouragement to Tyler, e-mail him at tylerthomas@cantonfb.org
Tell us about your family.
Hello Canton FB, my name is Tyler and my wife’s name is Candler. We will be married for five years this coming September 2022. I grew up in Mississippi where I attended Mississippi College. Candler grew up in the McDonough area. Candler had the opportunity to play collegiate basketball at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. While we were both in college, we both attended and were involved at FBC Jackson. Candler and I met at our college pastor’s home. We dated throughout college and I proposed in January of 2017. Later that year we were married. I (Tyler) have a big family, I am number 5 of 6 children, with a lot of nieces and nephews. Candler’s parents live in west Georgia and she has two sisters.
Tell us about your education.
I graduated with a degree in Exercise Science from Mississippi College (MC). MC is a smaller DII Christian University that is supported through the MS Baptist Foundation. Since graduating from college, I have served as a student pastor!
What is one of your favorite things to do outside of work/church?
Currently, our favorite thing to do is ride road bikes. This past year we randomly purchased road bikes to participate in a cycling ride across the state of Iowa. We trained for months and rode our bikes well over 1000 miles in order to be ready for the ride. Candler and I rode with my brother Scott and his wife Carley, and we had a blast. We were only 4 of 20k+ people riding their bikes. We enjoy riding together to be able to exercise and see areas that we often miss because we drive past too quickly.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently finishing my Mdiv through NOBTS, so the course work and required reading consumes my time. If anyone is interested in studying Hebrew or Lifespan discipleship with me, let’s talk!
What is something God is currently teaching you?
God is constantly revealing his kindness to me everyday. The people and students of Canton FBC have been used by God whether they realize it or not. Full-time ministry can be an overwhelming responsibility at time, and having people come alongside to encourage and support are vital for pastors.
Tell us about your call to full-time ministry.
My dream since middle school was to be an athletic trainer. I loved sports but also enjoyed helping athletes recover from injuries. Throughout high school and college I worked and studied to make my dream a reality. As I was in college some of the doors that needed to be open for me to pursue athletic training began to close. I sought the Lord’s guidance and wandered what was opening. One semester at MC, I randomly took a Bible class to fill an elective slot for my degree. Through that class and semester, the Lord began opening my eyes to full time ministry. I had never been opposed to ministry, but it was never I was thought I wanted to do. The Lord opened doors and allowed me to begin serving in ministerial roles. God has affirmed this calling through leading us to Canton First Baptist.
What are you looking forward to most about being student pastor?
Youth ministry gets to do a lot of things! Summer camps, mission trips, crazy themed nights, lock-ins, which I look forward to all of those things (except maybe the lock-ins, I need sleep). But the things I look forward to the most are the relationships that I will get to make and build with students, parents, and other adults. God allows us to be in relationships with others for a reason, to encourage and equip one another. I look forward to the relationships that we will build and those whom will be and are apart of our lives.
What is something positive that struck you when first coming to CFB?
Canton First Baptist is in a prime location to continue to make a massive impact in the community. Knowing that one of the middle schools is around the corner and that the future home of Cherokee HS is coming soon around the corner, makes me excited to see the continued partnership between CFB and the Cherokee County schools.
What do you like about the Canton area?
My early childhood days were in Knoxville, TN. Everywhere we went we could see the Smokey Mountains. With Canton at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it feels like a part of my childhood that I get to relive. There is a peace that we have when we are in Canton!
What is the future of student ministry in Canton? This is the million dollar question! My answer will be that we are going to expect God to do something that we never could have imagined happening. Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”. My prayer is that we as a church and student ministry are obedient to His calling and that we ask and expect God to work in ways we could never have thought possible.
Why should our congregation care about student ministry, and what are some ways people can be involved?
Canton First Baptist should care about students! God created them, died for them, and called them, so the least we can do is love on students! Many people say a healthy student ministry is a sign of a healthy church. I hope that Canton First Baptist will continue to support the student ministry by loving on students when they see them at church and in the community. I hope that members will continue to support through faithful giving so that students can attend camps, retreats, and discipleship programs. Lastly, I hope that members will be involved when we make strides towards loving on students in the schools, in whatever capacity that looks like.
What are some ways the congregation can pray for you, your family, and your ministry?
First, Candler and I are so thrilled to be in Canton and working alongside of those already hard at work. We want to give a big word of love and appreciation towards Dave and Lonnie. I can tell when a youth group has been loved and ministered to well, and there is no doubt that the Hall’s did just that. The people of Canton First Baptist can pray for our transition. We are in the process of selling our home, so pray that that goes smoothly. Candler is in the process of searching for a new place to work. Candler currently works as a Physician Assistant at a family practice in Henry County. We are praying the Lord will open up opportunities for her to fit in and be comfortable. Lastly, pray that the Lord would continue to open opportunities for us to be a light in the Canton community.
////////////
If you would like to say welcome or send a note of encouragement to Tyler, e-mail him at tylerthomas@cantonfb.org
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