Rev. Benjamin N. Thomas Jr received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Accounting from Southern University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While at Southern, he participated in the Southern University Interdenominational Gospel Choir. Benjamin accepted his call after graduating from college.
Benjamin was a dedicated member of the Historic Tanner Chapel AME Church. In 2006, Benjamin started Generation I.M.P.A.C.T. (Innovative Ministry Positively Anointed for Christ Today) which is the Young Adult Ministry at Tanner Chapel. Since serving in that position, he has developed several programs such as: ‘Study on the Go’, which was a bible study done over teleconference, Empowered for Impact College ministry, New Song Praise Team, and the Annual Young Adult Conference which has
allowed him to work with Gospel artists like Tasha Cobbs, Deon Kipping and Christian rapper, Flame. In December 2012, Benjamin was assigned to be the minister of Chosen Generation, which is the youth ministry at Tanner, in addition to his Generation Impact Ministerial duties. In his youth minister role, he rebranded the youth department now known as Chosen Generation Youth. While being the youth
minister, he created T.W.I.S.T.- Teens Worshipping in Spirit and Truth. This was a teen worship service that was held every First and Third Sunday as well as being in charge of youth weekends that had speakers like Immediate Past Connection YPD President Jon Ingraham. The youth weekend brought over 70 plus kids and parents to their activities.
In 2015, Benjamin created ImpactU College Ministry at Historic Tanner. Benjamin also served as the Phoenix-Albuquerque District Youth Minister where he was in charge of creating all of the youth programming at various district conferences. In October 2015 Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland assigned Rev. Thomas as the Senior Pastor of A.K. Quinn A.M.E. Church in Moreno Valley, CA the “Jewel in the Valley”. Since becoming the pastor of Quinn, Pastor Thomas has overseen the addition of a new sound
system, church renovation projects to modernize the sanctuary, and the addition of several ministries such as the youth ministry, liturgical dance ministry, as well as many other projects. Benjamin served as the First Vice-President of the Inland Empire Ministerial Alliance of the Southern California Annual Conference. Benjamin also served on the planning committee of the LA North District Conference, as well as the Epiphany planning team. In October of 2017, he was elected the first President of the Fifth Episcopal District Richard Allen Young Adult Council which allows him the
opportunity to travel the district to help set up young adult ministries. Benjamin is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. In 2018, Rev. Thomas received his Master of Divinity degree from Regent University. He has also been ordained an Itinerant Elder in October of 2018 during the Southern California Annual Conference.
In November 2019, Benjamin was assigned to pastor Bethel AME in Oxnard, Ca. Since being assigned to Bethel, Benjamin has hit the ground running by being apart of various committees and boards around Ventura County. Currently, he serves on the board for Clue-Ventura County, Vice-President of the Ventura County African American Pastor and Clergy Coalition, the police chief’s faith advisory council, Oxnard High School District’s Black Education Steering Committee, and Ventura County
GOTV, among many others. He has served on the LA South Planning Committee, as well as 5IT for the Fifth Episcopal District.
Benjamin is the loving husband of Tamara Garrison-Thomas. They have three children, Samara, Benjamin III and Bryson.