New calling: Thomas transitions from teaching to preaching

After two years teaching social studies at Greybull High School, William Thomas recently made the transition to full-time pastor at Greybull Alliance Church. 

“It’s nothing I would have thought a year prior, I didn’t really expect that to happen,” Thomas said. 

Thomas holds a degree in history education and was teaching social studies and special education in Rawlins before taking the position in Greybull. He and his wife, Zanna, moved to the area with daughter Ezri. 

“I really enjoy making connections with people and getting to be a part of their lives and just walking through life with them. Here at the high school, I really enjoyed getting to know the kids,” Thomas said. 

“This district really has a great community and kind of this great connection with staff, students, families, so that was fantastic. I really enjoyed my time teaching there and being a part of that.”

When the Thomases made their move, they ultimately decided to join Greybull Alliance Church. Zanna was nine months pregnant at the time. Despite only recently meeting the family, church members were offering to bring the Thomases meals as soon as Zanna gave birth to their son Arlyn, who is now 1 year old. 

“Our church body has been very gracious, very kind and supportive to our family,” Thomas said. 

He felt a call to ministry during this time and began taking Bible courses. 

“I felt like there’s this need for people who know their faith to help others grow in their faith and others to know about Jesus and about the love and the hope that we have,” Thomas said. 

Thomas began as a part-time pastor for the church in November. When a full-time position came around, beginning in July, he applied. Now, he will help lead the church full-time. 

“It’s a little bit of a learning curve, I would say probably every job is when you go from one to another,” Thomas said. “But it hasn’t been overwhelming, by any means. I’m still teaching, in a sense.”

Now instead of high school courses, Thomas will teach his congregation to love God, to love others and to make disciples. He said it has been both eye-opening and encouraging to sit with people through the good times and the hard times. 

At 29, Thomas said he is grateful for the opportunities he has been given.

“If you ask a high schooler, I’m kind of old … As far as people who generally go into ministry as a pastor or something like that, I’m definitely on the younger side of that spectrum,” he said.  “It’s definitely humbling seeing that I have this opportunity in the position I’m in that is kind of years before a lot of other people do. I get these extra few years that I get to feed into other people’s lives and continue to help them grow and know and love.”

Thomas said he would like others to learn John 14:6; Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the father except through me.’

“It’s one of those things that I thank God for shaping my life how He has to this point. Because I wouldn’t be who I am without the experiences that I’ve gone through, without Him making me who I am; my interests, my desires and my abilities. I’m able to use that to serve Him and help others, I’m super thankful for it. There’s nothing better I could do with what I’m able to do and who I am.”

Greybull Alliance Church offers prayer time before each service from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in their sanctuary. Sunday services start at 10:30 a.m. and are available online at www.greybullcma.org.