Tom Rees

Tom grew up in West Philly with his mom and dad. His mother was from Italy and his dad was a regular dancer on American Bandstand. At age 5, his parents divorced. Tom did not grow up in a Christian home and lived a very turbulent childhood.

He asks, "What do you do when you have all this anger inside of you?"

In an amazing turn of events, she ends up walking into a Baptist church and talks with the pastor. The pastor told her that if she was to hang onto the anger it would destroy her. This hit her and she cries out to God and asks for help. She is born again and begins to believe. She begins to watch the early televangelists like Billy Graham and asks Tom to watch them with her.

His first real instance with God was through tracts that he found while working at a record store. He was saved after reading the first tract about how works do not equal salvation. His mom and Tom begin to go to meetings with a group called the Catholic Charismatics (Mainline). They began to go to an Assemblies of God church and through the church and went to a summer camp called PTL in South Carolina.

Student a VFCC for 4 years and got a job at a mental health home. He planned patient activities. He really enjoyed the opportunity and states that he "Loved that job." It did come with some trials but it showed him that this is real life, life and death. Tom says that the job helped slow him down and look at the life of Jesus.



After two years he moved on and began looking for a job in ministry. He looked at three different churches and was glad he looked and went to each church. "If you can eat dinner with the family that is hiring you. You will learn loads!"

"Don't just jump because it is something for you to jump into. Makes sure it's a fit."

He was hired to work with young adults, shut-ins, and then eventually children's ministry. It taught him a lot and humbled him a lot.

He realized that people were getting saved but the church was not growing. He realized that by pouring into kids lives they will have a greater probably of coming back. He was talking about discipling. He realized that if he could disciple kids and make friends with them an walk through life. He also realized that he needed to develop a team. Discipleship is not a one man band but a team.

He now works with the Penn/Del church planting and the assistant to the superintendant. He helps get church plants/planters get started by finding people for the plants and getting them started and getting them connected with people that can help them.

Most difficult part of ministry is... me. He states, "He wanted to be part of a successful ministry. He then read this book called "Liberating the Ministry from the Success Syndrome" It changed his life and view on ministry.



Tom is married to Cherri since 1985. They met at Potomac Youth Convention when Tom was on 3D (skit team). They have two kids.

Tom is an awsome guy and teaches this class. He has a heart for God and is  great communicator.