Rev. Dr. M. L. Thomas
(February 26, 1923- September 29,2019)
Dr. Melvin Leon Thomas served as the fifth pastor of Ninth Missionary Bapitst Church for 45 years (1963-2008). Under his administration, the congregation grew significantly and the current edifice was errected in 1972 and the note-burning occurred in 1980. The edifice was a modern marvel at the time of its construction. During his adminstration, there was a strong emphasis on education for the mind, religion for the heart, and missions, especially foreign missions.
Dr. Thomas married the former Annie Mae White in 1948 and they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on March 13th.
Rev. & Mrs. Thomas are the parents of one daughter, Mrs. Valez Thomas Irvin, and her husband, Mr. Carl Irvin, Sr. The Thomases have three grandchildren: Mrs. Shayla U. Irvin Livingston, Mr. Carl Irvin, Jr., and Mr. Conrad Leon Irvin. In May 2012, the Thomases welcomed their first great grandchild, Zion Livingston, a beautiful girl.
Dr. Thomas also served in numerous capacities throughout his ministry. Some of them are: pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church of Ville Platte from 1946-2008 (62 years); President of the Eastern 7th District Missionary Baptist Association from 1963-93 (30 years); LA Home & Foreign Missions Baptist State Convention's Foreign Missions Chairman from 1980-95; Board of Managers for Foreign Mission Board of National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., and LA Home & Foreign Missions Baptist State Convention's 2nd Vice President from 1999-2008. Dr. Thomas founded Gabriel Villa, Inc. in 1980 to provide qualilty affordable housing to needy citizens.
Pastor Lazard began his ministry during Rev. Thomas' pastorate in 1997 and was ordained in 1999. After announcing his pending retirement in December 2007, Rev. Thomas carefully watched over the process which led to the selection of Pastor Lazard on June 1, 2008. On November 1, 2008, in a historic ceremony called the "Changing of the Guards, Rev. Thomas decended from his long and successful pastorates and Pastor Lazard ascended. Rev. Mekell Toussaint became pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church.
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Rev. Thomas entered heavenly rest on September 29th 2019 at the age of 96.
