Major Ian Thomas

Major Ian Thomas is founder of the Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers, now known as Torchbearers International, born in Hampstead, London, England, 13th September 1915, died in Estes Park, Colorado, USA, 1st August 2007.

For more than six decades it has been his joy to travel the world declaring the reality of a living, indwelling Lord Jesus, a reality that has brought transformation to the lives of men and women, boys and girls throughout the globe.

The Major is every inch a soldier. With his infantry battalion he served in the British Expeditionary Forces in Belgium at the outset of World War II and took part in the evacuation at Dunkirk. Often in combat, in France, Italy, Greece, and elsewhere during the long war, he found the Lord Jesus to be his complete sufficiency. The Major is likewise a soldier of in Christ, faithful to the Captain of our salvation. He has found life an adventure with God.

Twelve years old, he was converted to Christ at a Crusaders' Union camp. That decision was made when he was alone simply by praying earnestly, "Lord Jesus, please be my Savior"! At the age of fifteen, he felt convinced that he should devote all of his life to the service of the Lord Jesus. He told God that he would become a missionary.

"One night in November, just at midnight, I got down on my knees before God, and I just wept in sheer despair. I said, 'Oh, God, I know that I am saved. I love Jesus Christ. I am perfectly convinced that I am converted. With all my heart I have wanted to serve Thee. I have tried to my uttermost and I am a hopeless failure.'"

That night, all in the space of an hour, Ian Thomas discovered the secret of the adventurous life. He said: "I got up the next morning to an entirely different Christian life, but I want to emphasize this: I had not received one iota more than I had already had for seven years!"

When he is not traveling, Major Thomas resides in Estes Park Colorado, where his wife, Joan Thomas, and his eldest son, Chris Thomas, live along with Chris' family. All Major Thomas' sons are spread throughout the world and are active in the Torchbearer Ministry.

Mark, is the Regional Director of all the Torchbearer operations in Europe, based at Capernwray Hall, the Torchbearer Bible School near the town of Carnforth, England.

Peter is based at Monavale Homestead, the Torchbearer Bible School and Conference Center near Cambridge, New Zealand, in addition to being the Regional Director of all Torchbearer operations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Major Thomas' youngest son, Andy, is actively involved in the ministry of Torchbearers but in a different way; he is a craftsman. His participation in the ministry has been of great value as he leads in the construction of nearly all the new building projects.

“Our Mission is to proclaim the transforming presence of Jesus Christ through Biblical teaching and practical training, equipping men and women for service in His Church worldwide”

Capernwray Missionary Fellowship of Torchbearers is an international Christian missionary organisation engaged in evangelism and Bible teaching. The work has developed to include Bible Schools and Conference Centres around the world.