Reggie Thomas Announces His Retirement After 72 Years in the Ministry
The first Sunday of December 1945 Reggie preached his first sermon at the First Christian Church Miami, Oklahoma, and began his first ministry at the church in North Miami, Okla. He was 16 years old and continued preaching at North Miami until he graduated from High School.. He has never stopped preaching until now. His other ministries included 4 years at Sugar Tree Ridge, Ohio; 6 years at Catlin, Illinois, 5 years at East Point, Georgia, and 8 years at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
He dedicated the remainder of his life to missionary work overseas in March 1966 and has preached overseas in 82 different nations until today.
White Fields Overseas Evangelism, Inc. begins
In May 1978 Reggie and Esther began the White Fields ministry. This ministry was launched in a widely advertised rally at the chapel of Ozark bible College in Joplin with their dear friend Wayne Smith as the featured speaker. Soon after that they took their 8 year old daughter, Lori, with them on an evangelistic overseas trip to Haiti. It was during this trip that Esther had the vision of starting an orphanage in Haiti which became a reality with the beginning of the Mapou Christian Orphanage. Lori continued making trips to Haiti; with her parents for the next 12 years and had completely fallen in love with the orphan children whom she lovingly called her “brothers and sisters” by the time she married Zane .
Esther served as Founder and Director of the orphanage until she decided to retire from this position in 1990. Lori was so in love with the orphans that she asked to be the new stateside Director of the orphanage. Near this same time a tragedy took place at the orphanage due to the death of the orphanage Dad whose name was Jeanrilus Delicat. Jeanrilus’ untimely death led to a gang of thieves ransacking the orphanage during the funeral. So it was decided to move the Mapou orphanage to Gonaives so we could have police protection. Lori and her husband Zane, led in the funding and building of the new orphanage named Jesus Loves Me Home, and have continued to this day to be dedicated to this ministry.
LORI THOMAS DARNELL
NEW DIRECTOR OF WHITE FIELDS
Because Lori has been a loving and devoted daughter all the days of her life, because she has dedicated all of her life to the caring for orphan children, because she became the secretary of White Fields at the age of 16, and because she has served faithfully as secretary for her father, bookkeeper for all donors of White Fields and has faithfully kept accurate records of all donations and has provided income tax statements for all donors who have needed them., because she has been a vital part of White Fields ministry from its very beginning, and because she has lived a good Christian life, been active at all times in the life of the local church, and because she has been an outstanding mother and raised her daughter Lacey in a Christian home and has involved Lacey in the world of WHITE FIELDS and the work of the JESUS LOVES ME HOME in Haiti, we her parents believe Lori is the ideal person to become the new DIRECTOR OF WHITE FIELDS OVERSEAS EVANGELISM.
We would also point out that Lori has been active with her parents in all aspects of the White fields Overseas ministry and has traveled with her parents to INDIA, RUSSIA, GHANA JAMIACA, ST. MARTIN, AND THE PHILLIPPINES. During all of these meetings Lori was active and took part in the campaigns, singing, and taking part in daily classes and meetings with the youth . In short she has adequate knowledge concerning all aspects of the world=wide ministry of White Fields.
While Lori will be the DIRECTOR of White Fields, her husband Zane will support her by continuing to serve as Evangelist preaching overseas and traveling in America preaching in supporting churches and meeting with Church Boards, Missions Committees.
The goal of White Fields Overseas Evangelism remains the same——–To preach the Gospel in every nation and establish the Church of Christ in every nation and unreached village of the world. Lori will be working full time with all the native evangelists around the world who are supported by White Fields. She will continue to be involved with all those who support the work of white fields. You can phone her at any time 417 291 7225.
Reggie is approaching his 89th birthday. We believe you understand why he is retiring. He and his beloved wife Esther are continuing to serve the Lord as He leads. . He also plans to write a book of memoirs and Esther plans to continue serving the Lord as a loving wife and mother and grandmother
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