Our Pastor

Pastor Thomas Colbert III

Thomas E. Colbert is the eldest child born to Thomas and Myrtis Colbert, in Palatka, Florida. With parents, actively involved in ministry, Elder Colbert is 4th generation Gospel Preacher/Missionary in the Church of God in Christ. He, too, was inspired by God to pick up the torch, to spread the gospel message.

During a 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.

Upon graduation from Central Florida Junior College, Elder Colbert

attended and graduated from Florida A&M University. While attending FAMU, he was a member of the Rattler Football team, reporter for the University Newspaper, the "Famuan," business manager for the Pentecostal Student Council and singer with the famed, FAMU Community Gospel Choir. He was an active member of the University COGIC under the leadership of the late Superintendent Owen Smith. It was there that he met and married Dorothy C. Richardson, in July 1974. He is blessed to have four beautiful children: Tawanna, Tara, Thomas IV and Talia. Elder Colbert states of his many blessings, his family is his "greatest blessing."

Elder Colbert has been active in gospel ministry for more than four decades, founding the nationally known "World Youth Ministries, Inc," a 501c(3) ministry. Just a few of the ministry services and accomplishments have included:

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"

Elder Colbert was called to the Pastorate in 1995, while an associate Elder at Waston Temple COGIC, under the leadership of the late Bishop E.L. Sheppard. He is founder and current pastor of the Citadel of Praise COGIC, formerly Youthful Praise COGIC.

Pastor Colbert states that one of the greatest joys in his life is that God saw something in him, and entrusted him to preach His word to a dying world.

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