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OUR PASTOR

Pastor Thomas Colbert III

Thomas E. Colbert was born May 3, 1951.  He was the eldest child born to Thomas and Myrtis Colbert, in Palatka, Florida.  Blessed with saved parents, actively involved in ministry, Elder Colbert is 4th generation Gospel Preacher/Missionary (from both sides of his family) in the Church of God in Christ.  He, too, was inspired by God to pick up the torch, to spread the gospel message.

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Saved during revival in 1960 at the age of 9 years old, at the Cresent City COGIC, young Elder Colbert heard the good news, preached by Missionary Viola T. Knowles and accepted Christ as his personal Savior, later receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost in 1966.

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Upon graduation from Central Florida Junior College, Elder Colbert

marticulated to Tallahassee, FL, where he attended and graduated from Florida A&M University.  While attending FAMU, he remained active, as a member of the Rattler Football team, Reporter for the University Newspaper, the "Famuan," he served as business manager for the Pentecostal Student Council and sang with the famed, FAMU Community Gospel Choir.  Yet, he found time to remain active, as a member of the University COGIC under the leadership of the late Superintendent Owen Smith.  It was there that he was blessed of God to meet his wife to be, Dorothy C. Richardson, to whom he united on July 6, 1974.  He is blessed ot have four beautiful children: Tawanna, Tara, Thomas IV and Talia.  Elder Colbert states of his many blessings, his family is his "greatest blessing."

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Elder Colbert has been blessed by God to be active in gospel ministry, founding the nationally known "World Youth Ministries, Inc," a 501c(3) ministry.  Through WYM, Elder Colbert has been quite involved.  Just a few of the ministry serivces and accomplishments are:

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  • World Youth Ministries, Inc. Community Gospel Choir

  • Kids: An Endangered Species

  • Annual Tour/Crusades (both locally and nationally)

  • 1st Youth Choir to be invited as halftime show for the Superbowl

  • TV appearances on Bobby Jones Gospel, Nashville Gospel, Sounds of Gospel, as well as many, many others

  • Sponsorship of the WYM Church Basketball League (since 1984)

  • Co-Sponsorship with Citadel of Praise COGIC, Inc. of the Annual "Fellowship Festival and Love Games"

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Elder Colbert was called to the Pastorate in 1994, while an associate Elder at Waston Temple COGIC, under the leadership of the late Bishop E.L. Sheppard, thus founding the Citadel of Praise COGIC, where he is still currently serving as Senior Pastor.  God has also blessed him in his ministry as pastor, allowing provisions for ministry.  His congregation is involved in such activities as:

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  • Co-Sponsor of the "Fellowship Festival and Love Games"

  • Monthly ministry at the Juvenile Detention Center

  • Weekly Radio Broadcast - "It's Time for Pure Praise" (WTAL 1450AM)

  • Weekly feeding at the Shelter for the Homeless

  • Quarterly Church Newsletter

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One of the greatest joys in his life is that God saw something in him, that he thought to entrust him to preach his word...To a dying world.

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Elder Colbert's creed is, "for if there first be a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."  2 Corinthians 8:12

THE FIRST FAMILY

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