Beth Thompson

Associate Pastor

Extension 205
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I have discovered that life takes many unexpected turns.  Growing up in a small church in Smithfield, NC, it was totally unexpected when I began to hear God calling me into the ministry as a vocation.  I'd never seen a professional minister other than a pastor or a missionary and had never seen a woman minister serving full time in a church.  However, certain of my call I enrolled in Campbell University (College at that time)  graduating with a degree in Religious Education.  Next I attended and graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a MRE degree.  Following graduation and marriage to Tommy, we moved to Roanoke, VA where I became the first fulltime Minister of Youth, Education and Outreach at Bonsack Baptist Church.  Who would have thought that in the next ten years I would serve churches in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina before returning to the place of my birth here in Greenville?

I was called as the Minister of Education at Oakmont in May of 1994.  I had never really wanted to work in a large church, but in another unexpected turn, God surprised me by placing me here at Oakmont, which was growing into a larger church than I had ever imagined serving.  In 11 years as the Minister of Education, we have reorganized the Sunday School program three times and the church has increased in size and programs.   

Then in 2005, the unexpected happened again-twice.  First, Oakmont decided to add an Associate Pastor to the church staff and asked me to assume that position and I did so in May of 2005.  Transitioning into that position took some doing since I had never even considered that as a possibility.  Then in August, Bo, our 16-year-old son and only child, was killed in a car wreck.  Not all of life's unexpected turns are good ones.  But God is faithful even when the journey is difficult and His grace truly is sufficient.  With the love and support of the Oakmont church family and our other family and friends we are finding healing in the "valley of the shadow of death."   

As Associate Pastor, I work with the Senior Adults, spiritual formation, supervise some of the support staff, work with church teams and assist the pastor in pastoral care and other areas.  When I have the time, I like to read, play bridge, watch baseball, support Tommy and other runners in ORuBo, travel and enjoy being with friends.