Biography
Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas
With his theological insights and understanding of American Christian history, Rev. Thomas stands poised to lift up the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ to a generation that is forfeiting its destiny by disobeying God’s word.
Rev. Thomas spent six years as a traveling evangelist and two years as a pastor in St. Petersburg, Fl. In 1994, he became the assistant to Rev. Flip Benham, National Director of Operation Rescue/Operation Save America. Altogether, he has over 24 years of experience as a full time minister, public speaker, and writer.
His many publicized legal and political battles over the burning social issues of the day have gained him a unique platform for advancing the Kingdom of Christ in our beleaguered nation.
Through the Kingdom Leadership Institute, Rev. Thomas strategically makes an investment in the next generation. He trains young people with a vision of leadership times like these demand.
Rev. Thomas has a father’s mantle and spreads a patriarchal vision to reclaim the masculine identity that has been neutered by the feminization of America. He and his wife, Kendra Thomas, home school thirteen children in the Thomas Nation’s University of Righteousness.
A classically trained actor, Rev. Thomas graduated Magna Cum Laude from Los Angeles Valley College where he also received the prestigious Honor Chancellors Award. After his official training, he started in full time ministry with New Life Drama Company home based in Cleveland, TN.
In 1985, Rev. Thomas and his first wife, Liz, who passed away in August of 2005, started Elijah Ministries. Elijah Ministries is a teaching, preaching, and writing ministry dedicated to imparting a Biblical worldview to the Church of Jesus Christ that will provide the theological underpinnings to fulfill the “Great Commission.” The ultimate goal is to reform the Church to restore America.
In 1998, Rev. Thomas established the Kingdom Leadership Institute. The vision is to identify, equip, and send forth the next generation of righteous leaders-leaders who will become the repairers of the breach and the restorers of the right paths (Isaiah 58:12 & 61:4).
In 2000, Rev. Thomas founded and built a unique Christian/Pro-life park called Rachel’s Park Memorial in Waco, TX. RPM is designed to minister to post-abortive families. The name for the park comes from Jeremiah 31:15, which states, “Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.”
Rachel’s Park Memorial reinforces the value and dignity of preborn children and deals with the deadly wound abortion has afflicted against our children, family, church, government, law, and culture. According to Rev. Thomas, “At some point, America will be forced to come to grips with our complicity and complacency concerning this grave evil. We must therefore be prepared to adequately care for those devastated by this sin and crime.” The goal is to establish one park in every state of the union.
In 2004, Rev. Thomas, along with Rev. Flip Benham and a ministry team, which included some of their children, went on an adventure of a lifetime. They walked across America proclaiming a strong prophetic message. It marked the most arduous task in service to their Lord Jesus Christ and the preborn made in His image. They walked leading a donkey called Mercy, a white horse called Judgment, a broken set of the Ten Commandments, and an aborted baby. The long-term mission and living parable took over six months to complete.
Testimony
Rusty Lee Thomas, although born on a Marine base in Cherry Point, NC, was raised in the ghettos of Bridgeport, CT. Being brought up in an atheistic home, Rusty tasted what the world had to offer at a very young age.Street-fighting and drug addiction as a means of survival and escape soon became a way of life.
Rusty became aware of God’s saving grace at age 16. Visiting his relatives in New Hampshire, God met him head on in a supernatural way. This light was soon dimmed however, when returning to a home where the name of Christ could not be mentioned apart from a death threat and to a community where there were only forms of religion, but no true Biblical Christianity. Soon after this experience, Rusty’s parents were divorced and he began living on his own at the age of 16. |
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At the age of 17, Rusty joined the Army. He served as a M60-machine gunner in the 101st Airborne Division for 2 years. During his service in the Army, Rusty began to abuse drugs again. As a result of a drug overdose, he ended up in jail and in two mental hospitals. The military had written his mother to inform her that he had fried his brains on drugs and would be confined to a mental institution for the rest of his life. Seemingly at the end of his rope with no one to turn to God once again supernaturally intervened, delivering Rusty and completely restored his mind.
Since childhood Rusty had suppressed desires of becoming a professional actor. Thus after receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, Rusty decided to follow his dream and began making his way to Los Angeles, CA, to begin his training.
He enrolled at L.A. Valley College where he attended for 2-3 years. He earned his AA degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude. There he also received the Honor Chancellors Award. Rusty continued his schooling at Northridge University for one more year. During these years of schooling, he was being privately trained as well by Antonin Hodek, a mime artist from Czechoslovakia. Eventually, Rusty signed on with a manager from Colombia Pictures. His dream of working in a film career finally began to become a reality. Yet at the same time, his desire for God was growing even stronger. Through a series of compelling interventions by God, Rusty eventually died to his acting career to obey his Lord who called him into the ministry.
As a result, Rusty then became involved in the Hiding Place Church in L.A., where he was extremely active in the ministry of helps. He was first involved in prayer groups and street ministry teams. After 2 years of this ministry, Rusty sensed an unusual leading to go to small town in Cleveland, TN. Not knowing why, he simply obeyed. There he met Dave Woodrow and was soon involved in full-time ministry. This ministry was New Life Drama Company, a drama ministry that was associated with and sent out from New Life Bible College. This company traveled around the United States, Canada and Mexico where they passed out gospel tracts, went door to door witnessing and ministered in various churches, prisons, schools, fairs and on the streets. He traveled with the New Life Drama Company for 1 1/2 yrs. when he met his first wife, Liz.
The Ministry and Family
Elijah Ministries has started and trained several Christian drama teams that have served on the mission field in other nations. Some of the skits have been translated in different languages to reach people with the saving grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rusty has authored many plays, skits and gospel tracts as well as the monthly Elijah Ministries’ newsletter. (see Archives section)
Rusty pastored a church in St. Petersburg, FL called River of Life Fellowship for 2 years. He has also acted as interim pastor twice, once in College Station, TX and again in Tulsa, OK.
Rusty and his first wife Liz, were married on Dec. 7, 1985 and founded Elijah Ministries, which consists of teaching, preaching, writing, drama and pro-life ministry. Sadly, Liz Thomas went home to be with the Lord on August 3, 2005, after a valiant fight against cancer.
Rusty remarried Kendra Thomas and together raise 13 wonderful children who serve with them in the ministry and are home schooled through the Thomas family’s own University of Righteousness. The children stand faithfully with their parents on the streets and encourage other young people to do so. They serve in the home and minister themselves through the avenues of song, dance and drama.
Since 1994, Rusty has served as an assistant to Rev. Flip Benham, the National Director of Operation Rescue/ Operation Save America. He has also served as the March for Jesus organizer in the city of Waco for 5 years.
In 1998, Rusty established the Kingdom Leadership Institute. The vision of the KLI is to identify, equip and send forth the next generation of leaders. The KLI has been successfully established in different cities throughout America and continues to grow. |
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In Waco, Rusty and and family are sent out from Church on the Rock. There they serve the local body and the community through various means of outreach. The most recent work has been to build Rachel’s Park Memorial, a Cemetery for the Innocents and a Memorial to the Unborn.
The Mission
Elijah Ministries is dedicated to impart a Biblical worldview to the Church of Jesus Christ that will provide the theological impetus to fulfill the Great Commission. The goal is to reform the church to restore America.
Elijah Ministries is devoted to challenging Christians everywhere to pray, believe and work for repentance, revival and reformation to sweep America.
Elijah Ministries
P.O. Box 3126
Waco, TX. 76707
January 26th, 2011 on 9:20 pm
Yo Sandra,
The Lord richly bless you! The date has been changed and maybe put on hold. We changed the date from January 31st to February 10th. I’m working with some folks behind the scenes to see if we should move forward with our lobby effort on that day. If it works out, we would love to see the Keys and the Hopkins join the battle in Austin. We will keep you posted. Give my best to the family.
February 1st, 2011 on 7:18 pm
Dear Mr. Thomas,
We appreciate your good work, and share it with our readers. Many thanks for your great contribution to the Nordskog Publishing Publisher’s Corner and our e-newsletter via “Roe v. Wade: Day of Infamy”!
You may see your work rebroadcast in our pro-life edition newsletter (http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/327151/83dc1c6c66/1426000451/ab83c6a235/) or at our Publisher’s Corner (http://publisherscorner.nordskogpublishing.com/2011/01/roe-vs-wade-day-of-infamy.html).
God bless your life and work for Him,
Ronald Kirk, Theology Editor, Nordskog Publishing
February 1st, 2011 on 8:13 pm
Thanks so much Brother Ron for spreading the word.
May 26th, 2011 on 12:15 pm
May the Lord bless His work through your ministry. Press on my friend.
June 16th, 2011 on 10:19 am
the Lord’s Name is far above all other names. we must stand to declare His Name amongst all men everywhere in the world….regards of the circumstances. keep up the fight
June 16th, 2011 on 4:09 pm
As long as we have breath and life, by God’s grace, we will stand and seek to advance His Kingdom and glory in this poor-fallen world. Thanks for contacting us with this encouraging word.
IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE,
Rusty
July 30th, 2011 on 6:53 pm
Got your card in the mail today. What a load of crap. You’re using scare tactics and unsubstantiated charges
to try to tell me how to raise MY kids.
At least you’re giving the U.S. Postal Service something to do, delivering your message of hate.
July 30th, 2011 on 8:23 pm
Did you view the evidence, before writing me? If so, that is not wise. The prudent course is to weigh the evidence and then make a righteous judgment. Your comments sound like a knee jerk reaction that has no substantial basis. You, like most liberals, resort to name-calling because you reject the merits of the message that conflict with your worldview. For a free thinker, this does not lead to either, freedom or thinking.
As far as your last comment concerning “hate,” my response is “truth is hate to those who hate the truth.” I, therefore adjure you by the mercies of God to become a lover of truth as the truth is in Jesus! He said, “If you know the truth, it will set you free.” This I pray for you and your family in Jesus’ mighty name!
August 3rd, 2011 on 5:01 pm
Pile of Monkey Nuts. Alot of us are deceived and we dont even know it. Thanks for the truth, even if we dont like it.
August 3rd, 2011 on 5:47 pm
Your response made me laugh. Thanks for taking the time to contact us.
August 12th, 2011 on 3:21 pm
Bless you bro…I used to go to River of Life. Chris Osborne was a good friend of mine. Chris and I actually knew each other before either of us was born again, anyway…be blessed in Jesus name…Rev. Joseph Sabo
August 12th, 2011 on 5:47 pm
The Lord’s blessing rest upon you as well brother Joe. Thanks for contacting us.
October 17th, 2011 on 3:47 pm
God bless you brother Rusty! We’re brothers until the end!
Mike
October 17th, 2011 on 4:00 pm
You have been a gift from God in my life Mike. Thanks for your friendship. God willing, I’ll see you later this evening for another round in the KLI Braveheart Project Bible Study. Love ya!
November 21st, 2011 on 4:11 pm
Rev. Rusty Thomas,
I watched your video of you preaching in front of the Planned Parenthood in Orlando, FL in Oct./2010. I thought that everything that you said was true, but I TOTALLY DISAGREED WITH THE WAY THAT YOU EXPRESSED YOURSELF. YELLING IN A CONDEMNING MANNER WILL HARDEN HEARTS AGAINST CHRIST. Christ looked at the wealthy young man with Love – he did not condemn him.
PLEASE DO NOT COME TO LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS AND PREACH IN FRONT OF THE ABORTION CLINIC! Last Thursday a baby was saved through prayer and gently sharing with the mother the love of Christ. There have been 50 babies saved in front of this clinic during the last year by approaching the mothers with the Love of Christ and offers of help and support. I am afraid that babies will die if you come, because the gentle Christians will leave when they hear your tirade. Please don’t come!
November 21st, 2011 on 4:57 pm
Dear Patricia,
The Lord richly bless you! We have scheduled an event at Little Rock, AR from Dec. 7th-11th. About 30 to 40 brothers and sisters will stand in the gap, lift up the name of Jesus, and declare the Gospel of the Kingdom at the gates of hell. Through 2012, many different ministries will be coming and going throughout the year. The project is called States of Refuge.
I’m sorry that you are offended by the prophetic word of the Lord, but through it God has saved many children and shut these death camps down througout America. When I was there last in Little Rock, I saw incredible gentleness, love, compassion, and understanding towards those who murder God’s babies, but very little of these virtues extended toward brethren who seek God to end this holocaust in America. We do not come in an adversial manner towards those who fighting the battle in Little Rock. I would pray that you would extend the same courtesy towards us in Jesus’ name.
November 21st, 2011 on 8:14 pm
I suggest you read the book, Unplanned, by Abby Johnson. She used to work for Planned Parenthood. She wrote that when there were people outside the abortion clinic yelling and screaming at the women going in – it solidified their thinking that they were justified and doing the right thing by helping these women obtain abortions. They felt righteous in doing all they could to further abortions. When the folks outside the clinic started acting more Christ-Like and treating everyone with the dignity they desrve as Children of God, women started changing their minds about having abortions, babies (and the immortal soul of their mothers) were saved, and it hurt their business. We have put a real dent into the business of the abortion clinic in Little Rock. I think they are on the verge of closing their doors. Please don’t come and spoil the closing of this clinic!
November 21st, 2011 on 10:35 pm
Dear Patrice,
I have read the book and know Miss Abby. I’ve worked with her on pro-life projects in Austin, TX. When you say Christ-like, it seems you have one image in mind. Our Lord operated in both aspects of ministry: mercy and prophetic. You cannot read Matthew 23 and come away with the view that Christ does not condemn. It was and remains a part of His ministry. He is a God that is merciful and yet will judge sin and sinner. The apostle Paul taught us to warn the sinner to flee from the wrath that is to come and knowing the terror of the Lord we should persuade all men.
I try my best to do both. I give the law to the hard hearted sinner and give grace to the broken sinner. This is the model that Christ left for us to follow. Do I sometimes confuse the two. I have in the heat of battle. But my heart is the same as yours. You approach it more as a woman and rightly so, from the mercy, nurturing side of God. But it is no crime nor sin to uphold the fatherly, justice and prophetic side of God. Both are needed in this battle to end the holocaust that is desroying our nation.
By the way, I can also give you testimony of folks that came out of the abortion industry and ran right into the arms of our Savior through my “tirades.” Experience is no gadge or replacement for the truth of God’s word. Sometimes God was gentle in His approach and sometimes harsh. Behold the goodness and the severity of God!
March 12th, 2012 on 12:58 am
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March 12th, 2012 on 8:33 am
Dear Pastor Joseph,
The Lord richly bless you! Thanks for contacting Elijah Ministries. This year, our ministry, is involved in many projects that would not allow us to travel overseas any time soon. We do, however, appreciate the invite. May the Lord bless, equip, and send you into His fields that are ripe for harvest.
December 9th, 2012 on 7:36 pm
I recently received a flyer from Elijah Ministries that referred to an abortion doctor and an abortion clinic owner. While I am pro-life and agree with public outreach and letter writing to such people and facilities, I was horrified to see that this organization actually listed this doctor’s full name and residential address on a nationally mailed flyer. I understand your cause and your motivation to make a difference, but do you realize how many crazy people are out there that will possibly go to this man’s home? While this doctor is not in compliance with God’s law, he IS still in compliance with federal and state laws. Go after the LAWMAKERS, rather than the people who follow laws of which you don’t approve. I respect and support your cause, but two wrongs do not make a right, sir. Our job is to forgive the lost souls and try to help them and create change in a Christ-like way. Sadly, the flyer I received from Elijah Ministries is ANYTHING but Christ-like. While I am fully against what this doctor is doing, I will pray for his personal safety, pray for his patients, and pray that Elijah Ministries will evaluate its methods of outreach, and question if they are really methods that JESUS would use. Blessings.
December 9th, 2012 on 8:09 pm
if you pray for this man’s repentance and salvation, the Christlike purpose of the flyer has been fulfilled. Thanks for contacting us with your thoughtful response.
December 30th, 2012 on 6:58 pm
Please tell me how I can get or make about 200 copies of the emancipation proclamation letter for people to sign. We are having a march for life here in Columbus,Ga on Friday Jan 25, 2013 and I would like to have them for people to sign. And also how can I get copies of the short video about the church roared– abortion will not come to an end until the church roars once more???? It is AWESOME and I would like to get copies to give to pastors here that continue to sit on their hands and do NOTHING!
December 30th, 2012 on 7:59 pm
Dear Rachel,
The Lord richlly bless you! You can make hard copies of the Proclamation at http://www.prebornemancipation.org/ to pass out at the Marhc ofr Life. Also, feel free to use our videos to help spread the vision and mission. Thanks Rachel.
IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE,
Rusty
August 8th, 2013 on 10:38 pm
Dear Christian Friends,
I send warm greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ from Myanmar. It is great to hear that you are proclaiming the gospel in many countries worldwide.
I am Van Ro Lian, a native Christian minister in Myanmar (Burma). I am also the academic dean of Kalay Theological College in Kalemyo, Myanmar. I am teaching both at the College and preaching in the Church. I know you through Internet web search that you are serving the LORD in many countries worldwide.
I pray that I wish you to come and see my work and seek what we can do together for God’s glory in Myanmar. At least, we can have a short-term training at the Bible College.
Please feel free to ask if you have more questions. I will look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Van Ro Lian
Academic Dean
Kalay Theological College
Myanmar
Mobile: 09400402554
September 29th, 2014 on 4:18 pm
I found your website this morning while researching for my husband Bro. Andy Kight,and have been reading and watching most of the day. I wrote down the names of some of the books you offer in the ‘Magistrates’ video; Abortion Violations, The Lower Magistrates, Confession. However; I haven’t found where or how to purchase.
Please respond as I am gathering material that he will use on Pulpit Freedom Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. I send you the website and I will be sharing your website with pastor friends and others.
God bless your work and bless your name before our Father.
Consuelo Kight
pulpitfreedom.org
September 29th, 2014 on 5:00 pm
Thanks Consuelo. All the books can be ordered on Amazon.
June 5th, 2015 on 12:23 am
Hello Sir. God bless you. I am a Translator and have a huge team of Translators. If you have any material you want to get translated into Yiddish, my first and native language, also into Hebrew, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Georgian, Greek, Hindi and other 50 major languages, please let me know about it. We charge very low price, only $3 for per page. I will wait for your answer please. Thank you.
In Christ,
Linda Jane.
June 5th, 2015 on 7:39 am
Thanks for the offer. I will keep it in mind as we move forward.
March 19th, 2016 on 4:13 pm
Rusty, I met you at very first Herald Society in Philly years ago and went to dinner with you, Pat Necerato, and Edwin Lo. I have a quick question for you, do you have any of the original “Jesus is the standard” t-shirts you could sell?
March 19th, 2016 on 4:52 pm
Yo David,
The Lord richly bless you! I remember you brother. If you click on this link http://store.operationsaveamerica.org/default.asp
you can order some from there.
IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE,
Rusty
August 20th, 2016 on 6:45 pm
Rusty, How would I contact you to discuss scheduling you to come speak at our Men’s Conference? Who would I néed to contact regarding the possibility?
Blessings.
No King but Christ!!
David
August 20th, 2016 on 6:48 pm
You can call me at 254-715-3134 to discuss the possibility
April 18th, 2018 on 2:50 am
Rusty: Ben follow your updates on you son and praying for you and family.
Can you help me find a scripture in the OT that refers to “The Beast” as a nation or group of nations? I can’t seem to find it just now but know it’s there.
Blessings to the Thomas nation.
Bob
April 18th, 2018 on 9:03 am
Rev. 13
[ The Beast from the Sea ] Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. …