Dr. Thomas Childs is the founding pastor of LifePoint United Methodist Church in Keller, Texas. He grew up in Fairhope, Alabama, attending Baldwin county schools before graduating from Fairhope High School. He earned a B.M. degree in Jazz Studies (magna cum laude) from Loyola University- New Orleans, a Master of Divinity Degree (with biblical languages) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, a Master of Theological Studies (cum laude) from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and his Doctorate of Ministry Degree (with honors) from St Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri.
Thomas has
toured with the Christian band TRUTH, as well as playing in the New
Orleans Symphony, the New Orleans Saints Jazz Band, the Desire Brothers
band, the Harmon Lights jazz band, and others. Additionally, Thomas was
the first chair
trumpet player in the state of Alabama All-State competition, first
chair in the Southern United States Honor Band, and the Outstanding
Music Major for Loyola Univ in 1993. Thomas’
church resume includes being the pastor of the Dido United Methodist
Church, the Blooming Grove United Methodist Church, the Dresden United
Methodist Church, being the music director at Lebanon Baptist Church,
and the associate pastor at Shannon Creek Baptist Church. Thomas
received the 2000 Morris Walker Clergy award for
the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Thomas has
been an adjunct faculty in the clinical pastoral education program
at Harris Methodist Hospital, as well as teaching a class on Christian
Leadership at Texas Wesleyan University and being a teaching assistant
under Dr. Robert Martin at St Paul School of Theology. Thomas
also has served as the Director of the St Andrews UMC building project
in the Waxahachie District of the Central TX Conference in 1998-1999,
as well as serving as the Host Operations Director for the 2008 General
Conference of the United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, TX from
2004-2008.
Thomas is married to Dr. Gladys Childs and they have one child, Scott.