Something For Sunday
Thad Jones, Kansas City, MO, has been serving in the Laymen’s Movement, the men’s ministry of National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc. affiliated churches for more than 31 years. For Thad it began as a Junior Laymen counselor in his local church, Second Baptist Church of Independence, MO. His work there was observed by the district association and state convention senior laymen where they asked him to serve as state laymen’s movement boy’s work.
Beginning with the Missouri State Boy’s Director, Thad became a trailblazer in many areas. The state boys program was in its infancy. Thad embarked on developing the program to measure up to others. He organized the state junior laymen Bible Bowl and the state junior laymen basketball team so they could compete in the national program. That was in the early 90’s and the program has grown under new directors and been a major participant in the national program. Thad currently is the Vice President-At-Large of the state laymen and has held that position for the last 20 years.
Thad’s laymen work has also included his home district association laymen’s movement, New Era, where he served in various positions including secretary, president for six years and director the association’s scholarship fund.
Thad has just completed a 15 year tenure as the National Baptist Laymen’s Movement general secretary, 2000 – 2015. New trails, programs and initiatives we blazed in this period of time. Thad introduced and developed during the beginning of the Internet age websites, electronic communications, newsletters, social media and other digital channels and communications for the national laymen.
During this time there were many new initiatives and programs that then president Harold Simmons introduced that Thad did the leg work to get them up and active. Along with his general secretary duties during this time, that served as the main teacher for the laymen on “The Biblical Role of the Laymen in the Local Church”, which is taught in the National Congress, regional workshops, weekend workshops and local churches seeking to establish a men’s ministry. Following Thad’s tenure as general secretary, the new national laymen president asked him to serve as the vice president over Evangelism.
Thad give leadership, direction and oversight over the prison, street, shelter, nursing home and Acts of Kindness ministries. In September 2015 at the convention’s annual session in Memphis, Tennessee, that was the recipient of the highest award that a national laymen can receive, the prestigious John L. Webb Award as layman of the year, named after the national laymen founder.
Thad is active in the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri where he serves as president of the convention’s bible college, Western Baptist Bible College. He has been permanent president since 2002. Prior to that he served two stints as interim president and from 1992 to 2002, he served as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Western is noted in its history of being the oldest school west of the Mississippi established exclusively by Negroes, established in 1890.Over the years, many of the pastors of Missouri and Kansas churches attended Western because it was the only school they could go to in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Under Thad’s leadership the school’s enrollment, curriculum, special programs, alumni participation and support from friends of the school has grown.
Thad by profession is an accountant where he has held several Controller and CFO positions. He is currently the President/CEO of Midwest Regional Credit Union, Kansas City, KS. He served for 22years as the credit union’s CFO.
Thad is married to Sandra Jones where they met at William Jewell College. They have raised two grown children that now live on the East coast. Thad and Sandra are in ministry together in their local church, district association, state and national conventions and Western Baptist Bible College where Sandra is professor and second person to receive the school’s Doctor of Ministry Degree. They are sought after to conduct Marriage Enrichment seminars and teach and speak in workshops and seminars.
