Conversion

Tom was raised by a godly mother and a father, who dealt with many trials as the son of a Muslim immigrant who was murdered before his dad's eyes when he was only 10 years old. Despite his personal struggles and the difficulties those created for Tom’s family, Tom and all of his 5 older siblings came to faith in Christ while they were young. Tom was about 9 years old when God convicted him of his sin and of Jesus' ability and willingness to save Tom by His life, death and resurrection. Tom confessed his sin and entrusted himself to Christ as Lord. He grew up in the same Southern Baptist Church and was taught to love and respect the Bible as God's Word. At 15, he sensed the Lord calling him to gospel ministry. This was confirmed by the church, and he began to preach at age 16.

Family

Tom and Donna have been married 39 years. They have 6 children, 4 of whom are married. They also have 12 grandchildren. By God's grace all of their children are faithfully walking with Christ, 5 of them serving in the same church that Tom pastors.

Education

Tom has a BS degree in sociology from Texas A&M University (1979) and has also earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Ministry

Tom began to pastor while a senior at Texas A&M in 1978. After that, he served as assistant pastor of a church for 5 years before moving to Cape Coral, Florida, to pastor Grace Baptist Church (GBC). He has pastored GBC since 1986. Tom also serves as the President of Founders Ministries. He has edited the Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written hundreds of articles for various journals and magazines. He has been a regular contributor to TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. He has also edited and contributed to several books in addition to authoring From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention and Traditional Theology and the SBC.

Research Interests and Hobbies

Tom’s in particular interested in Systematic, Pastoral, Historical, and Baptist Theology. He enjoys hunting and being in the mountains.