John Thompson was saved by the Lord Jesus Christ on September 6th, 1971, on the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia aboard USS King DLG 10, in the US Navy. Little did he know this would be the beginning of a great epic journey that would last the rest of his life. He was called by God to preach the gospel a year later and began to prepare for the ministry through education at two Bible colleges: Faith Baptist Bible College in Iowa and Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO, earning a Graduate of Theology degree (Th. G.). Upon graduation he became pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Galena, MO. Later, he became Song Leader and Assistant to Pastor Jack Wood of Shady Acres Baptist Church, Houston, TX. He also has three more earned degrees: Bachelor of Divinity, (B. Div.) from Temple Baptist Bible College; Master and Doctor of Ministry degrees (M. Min., D. Min.) from Bethany Theological Seminary. He served five years as a missionary in Germany and other central European countries. It was there he served as pastor of an off-base military church (US Army). He also preached at many open-air meetings after the fall of the Berlin Wall and Iron Curtain. Upon returning to the USA, he became pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church for nearly 12 years and founded a missions endeavor called Juvenile Evangelism, for the purpose of preaching to young people in Juvenile Detention Centers. Currently, he continues as Chaplain of Vigo County Juvenile Detention. With the help of family and friends, Eastside Baptist Church in Terre Haute was established in 2010. In June2023 his grandson Brother John Lopez was ordained to be the current pastor. Dr. Thompson remains at Eastside as Pastor Emeritus. He has enjoyed “the grace of life” (1Pet 3:7), with his wife Carol throughout all these years. The Lord has blessed them with 3 children, 12 grandchildren and to date 12 great-grandchildren.