Tom Rees

Grew up in Philly dad was a dancer on American Band stand and his mom came over from Italy at age 9. His parents divorced at age 5. His mom told that his dad died but he did not. His dad got remarried. His dad name was Gene. His mom remarried a helicopter pilot went to Vietnam. He died over there. His third dad worked at a place call dummies. His mom was a hostess and waitress. He was a business man. He was in his life for 5 years. He ended up having a mistress that lived in Texas. His mom got to a point that was suicidal because of the all the men she lost in her life. He and his mom and uncle went to his weekend home to confront the other victim. His uncle was in the Mafia and he was about to take care of the person but his mom said to her brother it to stop. His mom was catholic but came a social Presbyterian church but did not have a salvation message to it. He was fascinated in asking the questions about God strength. One of the pastors came at the second divorce but did not know to tell them about Jesus. Her salvation experience came at night while thinking about her pass in bed. And she saw the wrong she did and called out to God;he answered. She would watch the Baker show. He liked to play stick ball in the alley of Philadelphia. He would watch Billy Graham crusade and pray the sinners prayer. A few months later he was in a record store. A couple of old ladies put tracks in the store and saw them and got them for his mom. He put them in his pocket and forget them. While on a train he had time to read the tracks and it laid it out to him that we all have fallen and he realized he was a sinner and prayed the prayer to give his life to Christ. The second track was about faith not feeling. He to pray meeting that night. He was going to the Catholic Charismatic prayer meetings. They believed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The bakers had a camp ground and part of the summer he got filled with Holy Spirit PTL club in Fort Mill , South Carolina. He got his call there. What is his position now. He works with Church planting assist to Stephen Tourville. Plans fall retreat and help gets Churches started. His route getting there is interesting. went VFCC. Got a job at a melrose home center. He graduated in 1984 from VFCC. He really joyed that opportunity. He got into trouble taking them to Church. One of he guys he watched John and has remember all the things he did. It touched his life. God had to slow him down to see what ministry is about. WOW! when he was looking for Churches he would go to the Church and not just interview the pastor only. He saw the people he would be ministering to. Went to a Church at shore , but was not his style. Then went to a Church in Northern Church got to the interview by an associate pastor and did not like his slogan of running pastors down. Have dinner with the family to see what they are like. Just dont jump into something if does not fit. God was faithful and on time when he got a job at GT of Redding PA he was hired to be a pastor over the youth, young adults, and shut in. Them in a year worked with Children ministry. A fourth grader bit his wife and he to take of that situation. His first year he learned a lot and had a great senior pastor that taught him. It met a lot him. He realized a lot a of people got saved but the CHurch did not grow. Why? What does it profit a church if they gain the whole world but lose their own kids. What if they targeted a few kids disciple them. Also develop teams he was not the lone ranger he needed help. He would pull people around him to build the Church. He brought people that were fun and loved Jesus so the kids would grow. When you train me you get me but if you send the team you get a power house that will raise off the roof. Went on staff at GT in 1985 to 1996. Now he is a part time Saturday night Pastor. The most difficult part of ministry is ME.He wanted to be at  a happening Church. It was a dutch feeling church old school. All his ideas were shot down R kent Hughes liberating ministry from the success syndrome. God takes him back to success. Success is faithfulness. He wanted to be around movers and shakers. Success of serving. Success is loving caring about people. Success is believing. Success is praying. We to pray. Success is Holiness. We in rasenlize life God we are good here but struggle here. Addictions that get compartmentalize we need to be honest and give God us the victory over things. Married to a wonderful wife name Sherrie at Potomac camp. Got married in 1985. They have two daughter courtney and Brittany.Loves to work. What is the biggest testimony and faithfulness of God in his life is family. Wife and two daughters loves them very much. It brings him joy that his daughters serve the Lord,and his wife has been so gracious. He follows precept austin a bible info website.Willow creek books are awesome.Be productive in what you do.It was a great night tonight.