Ron Thomas estimates he’s seen over 1,000 kids come through the doors at Bethel Bible Village in the 33 years he’s been with the program.
While he might not recognize many of their faces today, they recognize him, he said, a tribute to the lasting impact he made through his career there before retiring in December.
His co-workers commented on the dedication to his work he showed throughout his time there, saying he would make time for anyone.
Kathy Casey, Bethel’s director of digital media, said kids would routinely stop by Thomas’ office on their way to the counselor’s office just a few doors down from him. Despite his very busy days as the director of finance, development and, later, donor relations, he always found time for them, she said.
“He was known as the campus punster,” Casey added. “He could make a pun out of anything!”
Thomas’ role was a serious one, though. In 2002, Bethel stopped receiving funding from the government, meaning nearly all of the Christian-centered group home’s operating budget had to come from donations and fundraisers. Thomas had worked as a CPA in Chattanooga for 12 years prior to joining Bethel, so his experience was instrumental in ensuring the program made budget every year.
Thomas was led to Bethel through somewhat of a midlife crisis when he was 38, when he decided he wanted to get into religious work. He had been in seminary for around nine months when he saw the opportunity at Bethel.
“I had a chance to use my accounting background and be in ministry at the same time,” Thomas said. “I figured why wait to graduate?”
The job at Bethel was especially meaningful for Thomas, whose father had been adopted.
“It gave me incentive to get involved in this kind of field,” said Thomas.
Despite his retirement, he said he is looking forward to continuing to volunteer at Bethel whenever he can and assisting his replacement Kim Shumpert with donor contacts if need be.
And, of course, whenever he comes across someone who went through the program, his work won’t seem so far away.
“It’s very satisfying to see them doing well,” Thomas said, recalling one child in particular who caught up with him when Thomas visited the cellphone retailer he worked for.
The boy had come to Bethel from a state facility for foster children and said everyone there had been mean to him.
“I saw him the first day he came to Bethel,” said Thomas. “I took him outside and he asked me if this was a safe place. I told him I thought so, and that I was going to try to keep it safe for him and everyone else.”
For more information about Bethel Bible Village, visit bethelbiblevillage.org.