Deric grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He spent the first six years of his life in the inner city, the next 12 years in the suburbs of Homewood and a significant amount of time in the rural countryside with his grandparents. This diversity of experience and the work of God’s Spirit in his heart have significantly shaped him into a man who loves people of all backgrounds and walks of life. He enjoys spending time with his family, going on date nights with his wife, Heather, as well as getting to know new people, playing various sports (including football, baseball and basketball), fishing, enjoying good food and reading.
Deric Thomas holds an MA and MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a DMin from Beeson and is finishing up an MBA from Samford. He is all-but-dissertation in the PhD program at Liberty University in biblical exposition. He has taught adjunctively at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Samford University, Moody Bible Institute, Highlands College and Gadsden State Community College.
Thomas is also an entrepreneurial leader who has founded a trucking company, served as an administrator at Southeastern Bible College, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Glendale Christian Academy and elsewhere.
Thomas has been active in the ministry of the Gospel since 1999. Ordained in 2004 at First Baptist Church of Hartsville, Indiana, he has served in both ecclesial and parachurch contexts, at home and abroad. He has done cross-cultural ministry in 14 different countries and served with organizations like The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He’s a Battalion Chaplain and Captain in the Army National Guard of Alabama. He's also planted and pastored several churches, most recently Hope Mountain Church in Calera, Alabama.
Deric and Heather have been married for 24 years and have six children.
Education
- PhD (ABD), Liberty University
- MBA, Samford University, ongoing (2018-present)
- DMin, Beeson Divinity School
- MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- MA, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- BA, Southeastern Bible College
- US Army Captains Career Course
- US Army Basic Officer Leader Course
Publications
- Matthew, Christ-Centered Exposition series (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2011), Matthew 21:23-22:46.
- James, Christ-Centered Exposition series (B&H, 2014), James 3:1-12.
- Paul the Counselor: Counseling and Disciple-Making Modeled by the Apostle (Bemidji, MN: Focus Publishing, 2014), Chapter 10.
Involvement
- Army National Guard of Alabama, Battalion Chaplain and Captain
