Paul Thomas
Born and raised in Mission, B.C., Paul was the second youngest of six boys. His father passed away when he was only 4 years old so he was raised by his mother. She instilled in him a great faith in God. The Thomas family never had a lot growing up, often relying on the good will of others. God became the father to this family and true to His word, He cared for them in place of an earthly father. God provided for this family in many amazing ways. Paul learned from his mothers example how important it was to rely on God for every need.
Music has always played a very large part in Paul's life. Along with his brother Joe and through the influence of his friend, Les Kleiver, they decided to attend Northwest Bible College(now Vanguard College) in Edmonton to pursue a ministry in music. On his first night in Edmonton, they were invited to a party where he was introduced to a beautiful girl named Sherry. It was love at first sight and true to the standing gag, Bible College became "Bridal College" and they were wed a year and a half later.
Paul and Sherry were married in 1971 and have three adult children, Chad, Camille and Christy, all three of them, involved in music. A devoted husband and father, Paul's favourite times are family get together's. When his family secretly planned his 65th birthday party at a restaurant, they commented "that it was sad Paul couldn't be there at the planning meeting because he so enjoys these times together".
After graduation, Paul went on to pastor six churches of which three were church plants, over a period of 30 years. His first church plant was Fort McMurray. After a number of years, He and Sherry felt the urge to move back to the Vancouver area. As they were travelling through Port Coquitlam to the church they were then attending, they both had a sense that there should be a church in Port Coquitlam and wondered why there wasn't one there. This is where God showed His hand in a wonderful way when He had the pastor of the church they attended, invite them to start a church in Port Coquitlam. They started a church and stayed there for ten years.
After Port Coquitlam, Paul and his family moved to Calgary, and pastored in the Chinese Community for 12 years. Memories of singing in trio's and quartets with various people in the church has been a great memory.
Paul has enjoyed three careers in his life time. Prior to going into the ministry, he started in the lumber industry, working as a grader in his late teens and early twenties. Since leaving the Pastoral ministry Paul felt he would like to have a business of his own. A door miraculously opened to a window coverings venture which has over a time period of ten years, grown into a very successful business.
Paul's first venture into music was with his brother Joe, along with Les Kleiver, when they formed a group known as The Songsters. When Les left to join The King James Version, a quartet in Ontario, Paul and Joe decided to join together with Claire Rattai, Gerry Johnson and Norm Bonk, all of them Bible School students, to form a quartet known as "Living Letters."
After becoming a Pastor and during his time in Saskatchewan, he joined up with Dwight Scjherning, and two other pastors to form a group known as the "Clergymen". In 1997 Paul joined Norm Bonk, Dwight Scjherning and John Kleet to sing in the Tribute Quartet. That group lasted just a year.
One Monday night after rehearsal, the guys from Lost & Found went out for coffee at the local Dennys where they bumped into Dwight Scjherning who was then singing with "Potters Clay". They mentioned to him that we were looking for a lead singer to join our group and Dwight gave them Pauls' name. Paul was called a few days later and invited to try out for the group. After a little while the guys realized that his beautiful voice was better suited for the tenor part in the group so that is the part he has been singing, with Lost & Found, ever since. It is obvious to us that he loves music. He is also an accomplished composer and loves playing the guitar. We enjoy his great attitude and his youthful spirit, especially when it comes to music and the arrangements.
