"DR. NORMAN THOMAS JR."
 

Norman Thomas, Jr. is senior pastor and founder of New Life Church International, a non-denominational church located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is also founder of the School of Faith Bible Institute, headquartered at New Life Church International with affiliate programs in several U.S. cities and nations around the world. The School of Faith Bible Institute is certified by the Louisiana Department of Corrections and serves as a “good time” program, providing incarcerated men and women with six months off their time served upon graduation from the program.

Pastor Thomas received his Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Cornerstone University. In addition to his call of ministry, he previously served professionally in the field of Juvenile Justice for more than 15 years. He has served as a national accreditation auditor for the American Correctional Association, as a member of a Governor’s Commission Board for the State of Louisiana, co-chairman of the Mayor’s Commission Board for Prisoner’s Re-Entry, and a variety of other local and state boards.

Dr. Thomas is married to Dr. Debbie Thomas, a clinical therapist, who serves alongside her husband in the teaching ministry, including the Soul Care ministry to women. They have two sons- Norman III and Jordan.

"DR. DEBBIE F. THOMAS"
 

Debbie F. Thomas is the assistant pastor and co-founder of New Life Church International. She is a teacher at heart, especially when it comes to the Word of God. Debbie is a motivational speaker and has an appeal to a diverse audience.

Debbie’s professional background is quite extensive. She has served as a professor in Schools of Social Work at Grambling State University in Grambling, LA and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. She has served as Dean of Instruction at the Sowela Technical and Community College in Lake Charles, LA. She is also certified by the Louisiana State Board of Board Certified Social Workers.

She is founder of Family Life Counseling Services, L.L.C. This agency provides professional counseling, training, and professional development for the individual, family, ministries, and non-profit organizations. Debbie serves in the teaching ministry with her husband, Pastor Norman Thomas and is a leader in the Lake Charles community in ministry to women. Debbie is founder of Soul-Care For Women®, an international, non-profit agency dedicated to teaching women the techniques and strategies of developing and maintaining a healthy soul for living. She conducts Soul-Care For Women® seminars in the US, Africa, and Central America.

Norman and Debbie have two sons, Norman Thomas, III and Jordan D. Folse-Thomas. They live in the Lake Charles area.


 

"WHO WE ARE"
 

New Life Church International was founded by Pastor Norman Thomas, Jr. and Debbie Thomas, Ph.D. on January 17, 1999. The goal of New Life Church International is to bring the unsaved to the knowledge of Christ and to give Christians an opportunity to grow through discipleship classes, practical life-skill teachings from the Word of God, and Christian fellowship.

It is the desire of Norman and Debbie to promote the Kingdom of God in the earth. They have a passion to teach people the principles of God’s Word, regardless of one’s race, color, ethnic background, or denominational affiliation. They believe that God transcends all borders and barriers that have been imposed by worldly influences, social norms, and religion.

NLCI during its formative years, has conducted public worship services in a variety of locations and facilities including the YMCA gymnasium, a local High School Auditorium, a former church fellowship hall and the local civic center.

We have since aquired property and begun campus development (3000 E. Gauthier Road), the site of our new worship center and international ministry headquarters. The strength of New Life Church International is its ability and passion to reach beyond the walls of the church with a non-traditional approach to ministry. The church produces a daily radio and television broadcast and is committed to evangelism locally and internationally.

Today, New Life Church International enjoys the fellowship of partner churches in Columbia, Brazil, Honduras, India, & Kenya where each year Drs. Norman and Debbie conduct School of Faith Bible Institute graduations, pastoral leadership seminars, women’s meetings and church conferences.
 

"MISSION STATEMENT"
 

It is the mission of New Life Church International to teach, empower, and equip people with the word of God and manifest God’s Kingdom here on earth.