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Joe Thomas serves as Senior Associate Pastor and Minister of Music  at Victory Christian Center in Youngstown Ohio. He and his wife, Donna, have been leading worship at Victory for 22 years.

As a child Joe met the Lord at Vacation Bible School, but It wasn't until he was 14, after the death of his father to Cancer, that he decided to fully give his life to the Lord. He began to play in 'Youth for Christ' and immediately began writing songs about the Lord.  Joe and his wife served in a band called 'Omega Sonship Band for 13 years, touring regionally throughout Ohio , West VA, Pennsylvania and Canada , as far as British Columbia. The band released 4 albums of original music from 1978 to 1988. Earth Rider (regional release),The Sword and the Oil (Living Song Records), Incisions (Morada and Marock Records), which received some radio air play nationally and in the UK and the music was reviewed in several American and UK publications and the praise album: Back to the Source (Master Peace Records.) Joe began to lead worship at the end of every concert as well in bible studies and in his local church. Pastor Joe and Donna Thomas came on staff at Victory Christian Center in 1988 and under their leadership released the live praise album, Lift Up A Mighty Shout in 1998 as a regional release through Victory Christian Center.

Pastor Joe's passion is to see the church body truly worshiping together and that the Lord would be pleased and fill the house with His glory. He wants to see God's people drawn to intimacy with Him, to truly know Him and that their lives and homes would be changed as they walk that out during the week. He desires to see people come to know Jesus by seeing the joy of God's people who have been in His presence.

When asked for Pastor Joe's view on worship, he replied:

"God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He's interested in the worshiper, not just the worship. Worship draws us close to Him and is what the relationship calls for. It's what we need. Worship puts us in a position to give unto God and receive from Him. To know Him! True worship is a state of being intimate with God. We focus all of our attention on Him and look into His glorious face!

Our worship is not just because He said so, but because we love Him. It is an act of love. It is an act of our will. We need to determine we will worship. We need to be committed to it!

When we come together to worship at Victory, we need to come prepared. "We bring a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord!". We need to have determined not only once and for all, but in a fresh way...for that moment, I will bless the Lord! Even if we're feeling down, "Why so downcast oh my soul? Put your hope in God!" Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"
Joe Thomas serves as Senior Associate Pastor and Minister of Music  at Victory Christian Center in Youngstown Ohio. He and his wife, Donna, have been leading worship at Victory for 22 years.

As a child Joe met the Lord at Vacation Bible School, but It wasn't until he was 14, after the death of his father to Cancer, that he decided to fully give his life to the Lord. He began to play in 'Youth for Christ' and immediately began writing songs about the Lord.  Joe and his wife served in a band called 'Omega Sonship Band for 13 years, touring regionally throughout Ohio , West VA, Pennsylvania and Canada , as far as British Columbia. The band released 4 albums of original music from 1978 to 1988. Earth Rider (regional release),The Sword and the Oil (Living Song Records), Incisions (Morada and Marock Records), which received some radio air play nationally and in the UK and the music was reviewed in several American and UK publications and the praise album: Back to the Source (Master Peace Records.) Joe began to lead worship at the end of every concert as well in bible studies and in his local church. Pastor Joe and Donna Thomas came on staff at Victory Christian Center in 1988 and under their leadership released the live praise album, Lift Up A Mighty Shout in 1998 as a regional release through Victory Christian Center.

Pastor Joe's passion is to see the church body truly worshiping together and that the Lord would be pleased and fill the house with His glory. He wants to see God's people drawn to intimacy with Him, to truly know Him and that their lives and homes would be changed as they walk that out during the week. He desires to see people come to know Jesus by seeing the joy of God's people who have been in His presence.

When asked for Pastor Joe's view on worship, he replied:

"God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He's interested in the worshiper, not just the worship. Worship draws us close to Him and is what the relationship calls for. It's what we need. Worship puts us in a position to give unto God and receive from Him. To know Him! True worship is a state of being intimate with God. We focus all of our attention on Him and look into His glorious face!

Our worship is not just because He said so, but because we love Him. It is an act of love. It is an act of our will. We need to determine we will worship. We need to be committed to it!

When we come together to worship at Victory, we need to come prepared. "We bring a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord!". We need to have determined not only once and for all, but in a fresh way...for that moment, I will bless the Lord! Even if we're feeling down, "Why so downcast oh my soul? Put your hope in God!" Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"