MEET
Pastor Anthony Thomas
Anthony R. Thomas lives by his personal motto, “Live-Learn-Grow-Lead!” He is a husband, father, educator, counselor, and church planter. As a minister, public speaker and workshop facilitator, Thomas is characterized by most as passionate, clear to understand and practical. He engages audiences with hands-on team building activities, and other interactive
Thomas’ passion for speaking in public was birthed through participation in Hope Is Vital, an improv group whose primary goal was to empower others to overcome obstacles. Thomas struggled for many years with low self-esteem, and did not realize the strength of his voice and the power of his words. No longer silenced by insecurity, fear or doubt, Thomas is most fulfilled when interacting and sharing with people. Some of his popular talks and workshops are rooted in overcoming obstacles through the change process as well as marriage and family advancement.
A skilled communicator who is effective in building collaborative relationships, Thomas consults with and provides service for various groups, offering organizational and program development. He has spent more than 15 years working with adults and youth as a counselor, educational leader and community liaison. Thomas serves on the Board of Directors for several community organizations.
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Thomas’ passion for public speaking and teaching ministry were birthed through participation in Hope Is Vital, an improv group whose primary goal was to empower others to overcome obstacles. Thomas struggled for many years with low self-esteem, and did not realize the strength of his voice and the power of his words. No longer silenced by insecurity, fear or doubt, Thomas is most fulfilled when interacting and sharing with people. A skilled communicator who is effective in building collaborative relationships, Thomas consults with and provides service for various groups in the areas of organizational and program development. He has spent nearly 20 years working with adults and youth as a counselor, educational leader, and community liaison. Thomas serves on the Board of Directors for several community organizations.
Thomas was licensed as a minister by the late Dr. Nathaniel Robinson of Pilgrim Church of God in Christ in 2001. During his tenure, he served as Sunday School and Bible class instructor and youth leader. During his undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University, Thomas served New Hope Missionary Baptist Church as a Children’s Church instructor and college student Bible study instructor. Thomas served the Friendly Temple Church of God in Christ from 2003-2015. During his tenure, he served as Director of Children’s Ministry and later as Youth Director. He received ordination as Elder in the Church of God in Christ under the late Bishop Cody V. Marshall.
In 2015, Thomas planted Spoken Word Fellowship Church in south suburban Chicago. Spoken Word, as it became known, was impactful through BREW (Brothers Rally to Enjoy the Word), Unpacking Wonder Woman annual women’s conference, and Let’s Do Life, an internet radio show that addresses the day-to-day lifestyle of Christians. In September 2019, Pastor Thomas and Spoken Word merged with Calvary Covenant Church where he serves as Assistant Pastor. His primary task is to assist with the revitalization of the local assembly. Thomas’s ministry mission is to “Love people, connect them to Christ, and teach them how to live according to God’s Word”. His ministry vision is to be a place of reconciliation, restoration, and clarity for today’s generation of Christ-followers.
Family-oriented and fun-loving, Thomas enjoys valued moments with his wife, Brytish, and their three children: Cameron, Kiersten and Kaci. Pastor Anthony Thomas has harnessed God’s vision for his life, profession and ministry, relentlessly seeking to fulfill his assignment.
MEET
Lady Brytish C. Moore-Thomas
Lady Brytish C. Moore-Thomas has proven to be a much sought after musician, educator and advocate for Education and the Arts as she has served in multiple capacities in musical arts and entertainment.
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She functioned in various churches as youth worker, minister of music, consultant, vocal trainer, choir director, and musician. Lady Brytish has taught private music instruction for 20+ years, and has served as a music teacher in the Chicago and Country Club Hills public school systems. In those schools, she developed successful music programs and conducted choral and instrumental ensembles. Lady Brytish served at Valparaiso University were she taught an accredited course in gospel music, educating students on the history and performance of this American art form. Currently, Lady Brytish an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan University in Merriville, Indiana where she teaches Humanities, specializing in music and art in the Division of Liberal Arts.
In 1998, Brytish founded B Moore Productions, a music and arts consultant company. Through her company, she performs solo piano, forms bands for events, serves as musical director for live and studio recordings, conferences and concerts, offers private music instruction and developmental consultations in the arts for individuals, ministries, and organizations. Her musical prowess has placed Brytish on numerous platforms as the Rockefeller Chapel, Ravinia, Black Ensemble Theater, Orchestra Hall, DuSable Museum, and the Auditorium Theater to name a few. She serves as a faculty member and music director for the Karitos Christian Arts Conference, a gathering of Christian artists from various states who receive training and impartation for worship through the Arts. She has presented sessions for musicians, worship leaders, and women in ministry.
Lady Brytish has received many awards and honors over the years that include the “Tribute to Black Women in Jazz” Rising Star Award and a nomination for the GRAMMY Music Teacher of the Year Award. She has performed concerts as a member of various bands with jazz greats like Frank Foster, Wynton Marsalis, James Moody, and Melton Mustafa. She presented as the keynote speaker for the Valparaiso University’s Black History Month Banquet, and has also served as a guest lecturer at Chicago State University during their Gospel Music Boot Camp on “The History of Gospel Music”.
Lady Brytish, the eldest of 10, comes from a musically gifted family. A lover of visual arts, she enrolled into Curie High School for the Performing Arts as a scenic designed major, transitioned and graduated as music major. Lady Brytish earned a Master’s degree in Choral Music Education from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, IL and a Bachelor’s degree in General Music Education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, in addition to a certificate in Worship Studies from The Worship Arts Conservatory, founded by Vivien Hibbert. Lady Brytish loves to fuse classical, jazz, and gospel styles to produce heart-warming sounds that soothes hearts of people and ushers them into God’s presence.
She produced her first devotional CD for her inaugural “Unpacking Wonder Woman” Women’s Conference in September 2017. This two-day event was held at The Chicago Theological Seminary. Over 100 men and women attended this spirit-filled event, where the power and glory of God moved throughout the entire weekend.
Lady Brytish is currently transitioning from music ministry to frontline leadership as she is working with her husband in the launching of Spoken Word Fellowship Church since December of 2015. She has embraced a new hat as other ministry gifts have begun to emerge in this season of her life. She is developing her gift of intercessory prayer and passion for Women’s Ministry. This is evident as she gathers women during W3P (Women Winning with Prayer) sessions, a powerful time of deep book discussion and prayer for women who desire a closer walk with God.
She is happily married to Pastor Anthony R. Thomas. They are proud parents of 3 beautiful gifts who also display both academic and musical talents. The Thomas family enjoys spending quality time together traveling, engaging in extra-curricular activities, and establishing the vision of Spoken Word Fellowship Church.
OUR MISSON
As Christ’s ambassadors, we aspire to be a people and provide a place of restoration, reconciliation, and clarity for mankind.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
OUR VISION
Love people, connect them to Christ, and teach them how to live.
Matthew 28:19-20