Reverend Jimmy Allen Thomas is a native of High Point, North Carolina.  Reverend Thomas attended Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education.  He attended Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, where he studied towards a Master of Arts Degree in Choral Conducting under the tutelage of Dr. Nathan M. Carter.  Reverend Thomas received a Master of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., where he has studied toward a Doctoral Degree in Ministry.

Reverend Thomas served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.  He served as the Director and Advisor to the United Voices of Praise Choir at the Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania.  He has served on the A.M.E. Zion Church Bicentennial Hymnal Commission and assisted in the publication of a new A.M.E. Zion Church Hymnal.  He is a composer, and has performed as a featured concert artist and conducted seminars and workshops throughout the United States.  

Reverend Thomas grew up in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.  He accepted the call to the ministry in 1978.  He has served as a pastor for over 21 years in the A.M.E. Zion Church, churches in New Castle, DE (Union); Alexandria, VA (Alleyne); Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Wesley Union); and Chicago, IL (Martin Temple).

While in Harrisburg, Pastor Thomas served as the President of the Board of Director’s for Zion Academy of Wesley Union, and founded and served as the President of the Board of Director’s for the Wesley Union Community Development Corporation, Inc. Wesley Union CDC and the City of Harrisburg jointly acted to create the ten-year Uptown Neighborhood Action Strategy for the extensive redevelopment and renewal of the Uptown Harrisburg community.  Presently, the Uptown Neighborhood Action Strategy has brought over $100,000,000.00 of redevelopment to the Uptown community.  Under his leadership the first phase of a major renovation project for the Education and Family Life Center was completed which provided services to families in the community – ranging from educational programs to family health services, counseling, and an adult GED program.  In 2004, the first phase of the Wesley Union Infill Housing Project was completed at a cost of $500,000.00.      

He has been recognized in both the Harrisburg’s “The Patriot News” and the “Harrisburg Magazine” as one of the “Movers and Shakers” of the African American Community in Central Pennsylvania for 2004.  In November 2004, “Good Morning America” (ABC) selected Reverend Thomas to participate as one of three clergy to officiate the wedding renewal vows of 125 couples from around the world.  Also in 2004, Rev. Thomas was appointed by the Honorable Governor Edward G. Rendell to serve on the Board of Commissioners for the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  In 2006, he received the Livingstone College Alumni award by the UNCF Chicago Inter-alumni Council.

Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Thomas established the New Zion Ministries.  The first worship service was held on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at the King of Glory Tabernacle Church of God in Christ.  When the invitation to establish a new church was extended by Rev. Thomas to those in attendance, fifty-eight-(58) persons stepped forward to make the commitment to be “The Church on a Mission…A People on the Move”.

On Sunday, May 20, 2012 a permanent church home located in the southwest suburbs of Chicago in Alsip, IL was purchased for over $750,000.00.  Pastor Thomas lovingly refers to the property as ‘God’s Million Dollar Miracle’ because of the divine favor bestowed upon the congregation; the speed and efficiency with which the Church was acquired.  In addition to the magnificent church edifice, there is a single family annex building with ample parking all on 2.6 acres of land.  

Reverend Thomas is married to the former Pamela Smith and is the father of two children; a son Justin Allen Thomas and a daughter, Paighton Michele Thomas.