John P Thomas' Obituary
John P. Thomas (Bai) was born to the late P. M. John and Aleyamma John of Kochiyil Poovakkala Naduvilemuriyil House, Anjilithanam, Kaviyoor Thiruvilla, India on May 6, 1948. He is the sixth of their nine children. His siblings are Ammini, Marykutty, Pastor P. J. Mathew, John Kurian, P. J. Oommen, Pastor Jacob John, Pastor Roy Poovakkayil, and Susamma. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior as a young man and was baptized soon after.
Bai graduated from Anjilithanam High School in Thiruvalla and went to Bhopal to further his studies. He graduated from Bhopal University in 1975 where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Botany, Zoology and Geology. His desire to serve the Lord started from a very young age and even while in Bhopal, Bai went from door to door to share the gospel.
On January 30, 1975 Bai married Kunjamma Thomas in Anjilithanam. In 1976 the young couple departed Kerala to join family in Des Moines, Iowa where in January of 1979 the Lord blessed them with a beautiful daughter, Roxy. The following year they moved to Houston, Texas and was blessed with a handsome son, Jobbins, in July of 1981. Bai and Kunjamma have called Houston home for the past 38 years, where Bai pursued a successful career at Verizon and Kunjamma worked as a Registered Nurse.
Since 1980, Bai has been a member of IPC Hebron Houston, regarded as a respected elder and leader. Through the years at IPC Hebron Houston, he was blessed to serve as secretary, treasurer, Sunday School principal, Sunday School teacher, and worship leader. Additionally, Bai served in several other organizations including Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites (PCNAK), IPC Family Conference, Midwest Conference and Houston Pentecostal Fellowship (HPF).
While Bai believed in serving his community and the church, his true burden was for India and the people with whom he grew up. In 1997, he built a church in Changanassery, Kerala to provide the local community with a house of worship. His vision to spread the gospel and ministry of Christ to those in this area continues to blossom. However, Bai’s vision did not end with Changanassery. Beginning in July 2005, he began what was to become known as “Bless America” meetings within Houston. Held annually during the first week of August, these meetings gathered believers of all denominations as one body to pray for his adopted homeland America.
Bai lived a very active life. In addition to working a full-time job, being heavily involved with numerous ministries and the church, he made time to be an avid reader and was blessed with a wonderful memory. Bai was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2010, yet throughout his struggle praised the Lord with every breath – until he could no longer speak. Slowly, his brain started to atrophy and the disease ultimately took away his exuberant life. On the morning of January 15th at 8:20 AM Bai celebrated his heavenly birthday and was welcomed into the loving arms of his heavenly father.
John P. Thomas (Bai) will be remembered fondly by family and friends alike as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Bai lived an exemplary life and his belief in God and for God’s word was unshakable and made evident by his every action. His unwavering faith in Jesus Christ has enabled people both near and far to find salvation and to secure their eternity. Bai embodied the life of Christ in all of his ways and leaves behind an imprint and legacy that will remain in the hearts and lives of all he encountered. His loving smile, vivacious laugh, and signature backslap brought joy and happiness to all who crossed his path. Bai will be greatly missed here on Earth, but we know and have faith that he is in the presence of his loving Savior, Jesus Christ, and that we too will one day be reunited in Heaven.
John (Bai) is survived by his wife of 42 years, Kunjamma Thomas, daughter Roxy, her husband Robbie and their son Henry; son Jobbins, his wife Teena, their daughter Madison and Riley (dad’s beloved dog). His five brothers and three sisters, including Ammini, Marykutty, Pastor P. J. Mathew, John Kurian, P. J. Oommen, Pastor Jacob John, Pastor Roy Poovakkayil and Susamma, four sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, twenty-three nieces and nephews and many cousins, also survive him.
We love you Daddy, Dad, Baichan, Baipappan, Baiuncle, Bai brother, Mr. John Thomas!
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