Thomas De Somer
Auburn,IN
Summary
Compassionate spiritual leader, adept at delivering impactful guidance and support with high productivity and efficiency in task completion. Skilled in public speaking, counseling, and community outreach, ensuring meaningful connections and positive outcomes. Excels in empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution, fostering community growth and individual well-being.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Pastor of Discipleship
Harvest Fellowship
Fort Wayne, IN
07.2019 - Current
- Managed initiatives for nurturing families in various ways including counseling and education.
- Implemented targeted ministries for men and senior adults.
- Provided effective preaching, teaching, prayer, hospital visitation, marriage support groups, and theological instruction.
Lead and Founding Pastor
Vital Cross Church
Simi Valley, CA
05.2010 - 04.2015
- Panted a vibrant Christian congregation filled with artists, poets, and creative thinkers.
- Implemented ministry initiatives that included teaching, preaching, and casting vision for community outreach and global justice.
- Directed ongoing service and evangelistic outreaches to inner-city children of Los Angeles as well as compassion initiatives within Ventura County.
- Visionary strategies included efforts to release new believers and millennials into ministry, and the personal expression of faith and spiritual truths through the arts.
Pastor of Outreach and Discipleship
Oswego Alliance Church
Oswego, NY
05.2004 - 04.2010
- Organized and directed the small group ministry, children’s ministry (VBS, Awana, Sunday School, nurseries, and children’s church ministries), adult Bible classes, adult senior ministries, hospitality and guest assimilation.
- Initiated a state-wide annual children’s and youth leader training events four years in a row that included guest speakers and workshop leaders.
- Planned community outreach events, concerts, and community drama outreaches, clothing drives and a food distribution ministry for the purpose of building bridges into the marginalized and under serviced community.
- Assisted the senior pastor in various ministerial responsibilities.
Youth Pastor
La Grange Bible Church
La Grange, IL
09.2002 - 08.2004
- Supervised teams of diverse groups in order to reach and disciple teens, utilizing multimedia, drama, music, impact games, and dynamic preaching.
- Launched and managed a youth small group ministry that included over forty students and eight small group adult leaders.
- Planned and led three to four youth trips and activities each month.
- Directed an annual youth Christmas drama that included sixty students for the purpose of outreach into the community.
- Led a short-term mission trip to Trinidad with 30 students and adults.
- Mobilizing a team of adult leaders, parents, college interns, teen discipleship groups, teen counseling, and spiritual instruction.
Associate Pastor
Oswego Alliance Church
Oswego, NY
09.2000 - 08.2002
- Served as the pastor over Christian education, chairing the children’s planning committee, and overseeing various children’s ministries, including Sunday School, Backyard Bible Clubs, Vacation Bible School, Kids' Mission Conference, and the Children’s Harvest Outreach.
- Developed and implemented equipping and training programs for teachers, small group leaders, and hospitality and assimilation ministries.
- Led a weekly Bible study for college students and single adults.
- Assisted the senior pastor in various ministerial responsibilities, including preaching, teaching, visitation, mentoring, and counseling.
Youth Pastor
Cornerstone Alliance Church
Roanoke, IN
06.1997 - 08.2000
- Pioneered a new youth ministry program, which included Sunday and Wednesday evening programs, small groups at various times during the week, and monthly trips and events.
- Organized student-led at the local high school, and worked with other youth pastors to form an off-campus ministry devoted to reaching students for Christ. Assisted in the planning and implementation of planning of conference-wide youth events, youth rallies, and summer camps.
- Organized and led a youth mission trip to Mexico. Assisted the senior pastor in ministerial and leadership responsibilities.
Youth Club Director
Youth For Christ Of Northern Indiana
Fort Wayne, IN
06.1992 - 05.1997
- Served as the Campus Life director for two public high schools in the Fort Wayne area.
- Organized a weekly club meeting designed for outreach and impact.
- Oversaw the organization of student-led prayer groups, as well as Bible studies.
- Helped plan and organize a youth mission trip to Haiti.
- Assisted in the planning of city-wide evangelistic outreach events.
- Mobilized parents, faculty, as well as youth workers, to financially support the ministry.
Education
Master of Arts - Christian Studies
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN01-2010
Bachelor of Science - Pastoral Ministries
Taylor University
Fort Wayne, IN01-1993
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts, Commercial Illustration
American Academy of Art
Chicago, IL05-1987
Skills
- Youth Program Development
- Congregational Care
- Mission-Oriented
- Transformational Leadership
- Spiritual Instruction
- Church Organizational Administration
Affiliations
- Fine Art Painting
- Watercolor Instructor
- Conference Speaker
- Outdoors: Hiking, Canoeing, Fishing, Plein Air Painting
Certification
- Ministry License Christian & Missionary Alliance 1998
- Ordination Christian & Missionary Alliance 2001
- Registered Behavior Analysis Technician Certification 2015
ADDITIONAL MINISTRY TRAINING
- Multipliers Network Training - Temecula, CA
- Church Planting / Coaching Training - Ventura, CA
- Church Planting Boot Camp - Temecula, CA
- Acts 29 Church Planting Boot Camp - Phoenix AZ
- Bridges Out of Poverty - State University of New York
- Alliance Theological Seminary 18 credit hours - Nyack, NY
Timeline
Pastor of Discipleship
Harvest Fellowship
07.2019 - Current
Lead and Founding Pastor
Vital Cross Church
05.2010 - 04.2015
Pastor of Outreach and Discipleship
Oswego Alliance Church
05.2004 - 04.2010
Youth Pastor
La Grange Bible Church
09.2002 - 08.2004
Associate Pastor
Oswego Alliance Church
09.2000 - 08.2002
Youth Pastor
Cornerstone Alliance Church
06.1997 - 08.2000
Youth Club Director
Youth For Christ Of Northern Indiana
06.1992 - 05.1997
Master of Arts - Christian Studies
Crown College
Bachelor of Science - Pastoral Ministries
Taylor University
Associate of Arts - Fine Arts, Commercial Illustration
American Academy of Art
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