One night years ago as Birmingham police chaplain Thomas Perkins sat in squad car 222 with his partner, Jimmy, the radio went strangely silent.
Jimmy began fiddling with the knobs, trying to fix the radio. Perkins just sat.
“The radio works fine, Jimmy,” Perkins said. “The Lord just made it quiet because He wanted me to talk to you about asking Jesus into your heart. Do you want to be saved?”
“How did you know?” Jimmy asked. And he prayed to receive Christ that night.
It’s the story of Perkins’ life — he shares the gospel with every one he meets.
Perkins, now pastor of Mineral Springs Baptist Church, Watson, in North Jefferson Baptist Association, will celebrate 55 years of preaching Jan. 31 — a ministry he’s had since he was licensed to preach at age 17.
“It’s all about winning souls to the Lord — He gets all the glory,” Perkins said. “It is a joy to still be in the ministry after all these years.”
Even at 17, doors swung wide open for ministry, and he dove headfirst into a new calling and marriage to wife Elizabeth.
Less than five years after Perkins was licensed to preach, he found himself keeping busy doing everything from hosting a weekday-morning radio spot in Carrollton — “Breakfast with the Parson” — to working 10 hours a week in a supermarket.
Perkins drove the truck as a volunteer firefighter, drove part time for the funeral home on ambulance runs and drove several times a week to the four churches he was serving as pastor — all of which were in opposite directions.
“When I would hear the fire sirens, I would roll up my apron (at the supermarket) and run the half a block to the station,” Perkins said. “During lunch breaks, I would go home, set up my microphone and tape the week’s radio spots. You can preach a lot in 15 minutes once you get to going.”
Now a half-century later, he hasn’t slowed down much.
“Once God calls you, He doesn’t un-call you. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Perkins said. “Ministers don’t ever retire — they just get retreaded for different ministries.”
In the past 50 years, his sphere of influence has included serving as a chaplain for the Birmingham police department, publishing a book titled “Life After Death” and starting four new churches in storefronts and old church buildings.
Perkins, a carpenter, has erected lighted signs at each church he’s served over the years. He also built the lighted cross that now hangs over the baptistry at Mineral Springs Baptist. Perkins has been at that church for nearly four years, and in addition to his pastorate, he currently serves as evangelism director for North Jefferson Association.
“Bro. Thomas has been active and instrumental in the association,” said Steve Loggins, North Jefferson Association director of missions. “He’s a man of God — an evangelistic, soul-winning pastor. I appreciate him and his ministry.”
Perkins now also has the claim to fame of being half of a keyboarding team — his wife serves the church as pianist and he plays the organ, giving announcements from the organ bench on Sunday nights.
“He’s a great man and we appreciate all he does,” said music director Aaron Gray. In another Alabama Baptist church years ago, Perkins baptized Gray’s great-grandmother.
“God has really blessed me,” Perkins said. “I wouldn’t take anything for my journey and I’m not through yet.”
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