Who is Major Ian Thomas?
Ian Thomas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Major W. Ian Thomas is the founder of Capernwray. Whilst studying medicine at London University he discovered the life-transforming secret of the indwelling life of Lord Jesus Christ in the life of the believer. This discovery propelled him almost immediately into an evangelistic and Bible teaching ministry which has spread around the world.
From the the establishment of Capernwray Hall, in the North West of England there are now Conference Centres in more than 23 countries around the world.
The Major is every inch a soldier. With his infantry battalion he served in the British Expeditionary Forces in Belgium at the outset of World War II and took part in the evacuation at Dunkirk. Often in combat, in France, Italy, Greece, and elsewhere during the long war, he found the Lord Jesus to be his complete sufficiency. The Major is likewise a soldier of in Christ, faithful to the Captain of our salvation. He has found life an adventure with God.
Reared in a "respectable" middle-class English home, he was taken to church and taught its precepts. He learned little or nothing of the Bible, however, either at home or in the church attended by the family. At the age of twelve he was invited to a Bible study group of the Crusaders' Union by a lad of thirteen who, during that year, received Christ as his Savior. The Bible began to be meaningful to young Ian, and the following summer, still twelve years old, he was converted to Christ at a Crusaders' Union camp. That decision was made when he was alone simply by praying earnestly, "Lord Jesus, please be my Savior"! At the age of fifteen, he felt convinced that he should devote all of his life to the service of the Lord Jesus. He told God that he would become a missionary. He began to preach out in the open air at Hampstead Heath at that early age. He was also actively engaged in Sunday School work as well as in the Crusaders' Bible class. Life became a round of ceaseless activity.
Speaking of his youthful decision to become a missionary, he said: "I began to consider the best area in which I could become a missionary and the best means I could employ to be most effective – perfectly sincere and genuine questions."; The first missionary influence upon young Ian's life came through a doctor serving in Nigeria in the Housa Band. "First impressions are often the strongest", related Major Thomas, so it became his ambition one day to go an join the Housa Band in Nigeria, West Africa. He thought the best thing for him to do was to become a doctor.
At the university Ian became a leader in the Inter-Varsity Fellowship group. If ever there was any evangelistic activity going on, this youthful zealot was "buzzing around the place, every holiday, every spare moment"! He started a slum club down in the East End of London " out of a sheer desire to win souls, to go out and get them. I was a windmill of activity until, at the age of nineteen, every moment of my day was packed tight with doing things. Thus by the age of nineteen, I had been reduced to a state of complete exhaustion spiritually, until I felt that there was no point going on.
"Then, one night in November, that year, just at midnight, I got down on my knees before God, and I just wept in sheer despair. I said, 'Oh, God, I know that I am saved. I love Jesus Christ. I am perfectly convinced that I am converted. With all my heart I have wanted to serve Thee. I have tried to my uttermost and I am a hopeless failure.' That night things happened.
I can honestly say that I had never once heard from the lips of men the message that came to me then but God, that night simply focused upon me the Bible message of Christ Who Is Our Life. The Lord seemed to make plain to me that night, through my tears of bitterness: 'You see, for seven years, with utmost sincerity, you have been trying to live for Me, on My behalf, the life that I have been waiting for seven years to live through you.'" That night, all in the space of an hour, Ian Thomas discovered the secret of the adventurous life. He said: "I got up the next morning to an entirely different Christian life, but I want to emphasize this: I had not received one iota more than I had already had for seven years!"
When he is not traveling, Major Thomas resides in Estes Park Colorado, where his wife, Joan Thomas, and his eldest son, Chris Thomas, live along with Chris' family. All Major Thomas' sons are spread throughout the world and are active in the Torchbearer Ministry. Chris is the Director of Torchbearers International. Mark, is the Regional Director of all the Torchbearer operations in Europe, based at Capernwray Hall, the Torchbearer Bible School near the town of Carnforth, England. Peter is based at Monavale Homestead, the Torchbearer Bible School and Conference Center near Cambridge, New Zealand, in addition to being the Regional Director of all Torchbearer operations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Major Thomas' youngest son, Andy, is actively involved in the ministry of Torchbearers but in a different way; he is a craftsman. He has been known to say, "My brothers preach, I work"! His participation in the ministry has been of great value as he leads in the construction of nearly all the new building projects.
** Who
was E. C. Bragg?
About E. C. Bragg
Ervene C. Bragg, born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 6, 1912, was raised in, what was then, a rural area of Miami. He grew up under the influence of Christian parents and the Christian Missionary Alliance Church. He was led to the Lord at the age of six by a godly Sunday school teacher of whom he spoke fondly all his life.
Ervene was ordained under the Christian & Missionary Alliance in 1934 and began his first full-time pastorate at the Daytona Beach Alliance Church. For about ten years, Ervene pastored churches in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia. In 1943 the Lord led Ervene Back to Trinity College, which that time was located in St. Petersburg, where he began his lifelong ministry of teaching to Bible College students.
Dr. Bragg taught at Trinity for 55 plus years, being the only professor to have actually been on all five campuses of the school. He is also said to have been the longest standing professor of theology anywhere in the United States. He taught subjects ranging from Systematic Theology, Pauline Theology, Prophecy, Christian Apologetics, History of Missions, Christian Psychology, Hermeneutics, Harmony of the Gospels, and Comparative Religions. Dr. Bragg spent hours in the Word of God, was a constant learner from the Lord, and studied his entire life for the ministry to which the Lord had called him. Dr. Bragg served as Vice-President of Trinity College for a number of years and served on the Board of Trustees from 1949 until his
death in 1995.
*** Who is John E. Hunter?
Dr. John Edward Hunter (1909-2005) was an
educator, Bible teacher and Christian counselor. He was associated The
Torchbearers and the work of Capernwray Hall for many years.
John was born in Liverpool, England on
January 8th, 1909.
He attended Quarry Bank High School.
Attended Chester College.
In 1931, he began his teaching career in
England
During World War II, John was commissioned
in the RAF as a navigator.
After the War he was returned to teaching.
Worldwide ministry started in 1960.
1960, John gave up his teaching career
after 30 years and became a missionary attached to The Capernwray
Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers.
In 1965 John’s writing ministry began.
“Knowing God’s Secrets” was the first book published. More than
twenty books followed, Limiting God, World In Rebellion, Going On to
Maturity, Living The Christ Filled Life, Finding What's Missing, Major
Truths from the Minor Prophets, Finding the Living Christ in the Psalms,
Jesus Speaks Today, Faith and Courage for Today, and Letters to
Christian Leaders plus adult Sunday School material for Gospel Light
Publications.
The ministry take him to 22 different
countries, Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Northern Nigeria, Austria,
Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, India; Japan, The Philippines, New Zealand,
South America, Colombia, Mexico, South Korea, Sweden, Vietnam, and USA.
In 1966 he received a Doctorate of Divinity
from Biola College of Talbot Theological Seminary, Los Angeles.
In 1977 he was ordained in North Richland
Hills Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas. He continued his Conference
ministry and teaching in Capernwray Bible schools throughout the world.
In January 1994, John retired from
Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers