Lessons From Seminary

Avis Blake-Thomas received a Master of Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2013. She is the Co-Founder and President of the Opened Bible Academy (OBA), a non-profit she formed in 2013 with her seminary colleague, Tina Brown. OBA provides exceptional, tuition-free, biblical and theological training to those serving in various capacities in local churches, those preparing to attend bible college or seminary, and anyone else whom God has given the desire to know Him better through His word. She is a member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, in Houston, Texas, where she serves in many leadership roles. Avis served on the staff of Inspire Women Inc. where she was the Scholarship and Events Coordinator and was responsible for the planning and marketing of its annual citywide conference. She also taught their monthly Bible study to women in ministry and leadership across the city of Houston. Avis and her husband Al have been married for 36 years. Al is a faithful supporter of The Opened Bible Academy and one of its board members. Their daughter Ashley is an attorney and lives in Houston, Texas.

Chris currently serves as the associate pastor of adult ministries at the west campus of Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX. Chris is also an adjunct professor of theology at Houston Baptist University as well as the Montana Wilderness School of the Bible. In addition, he serves as the chaplain to three law enforcement agencies: the Katy ISD Police Department, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI. He received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in theological studies from the Moody Bible Institute, his Masters of Theology (THm) from Dallas Theological Seminary, and his Doctorate of Ministry (DMin) also from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Rev. Daymond Wilkins is a 1995 graduate of James Madison High School here in Houston. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the fall of 1999 while on a NROTC Scholarship. He served 5 years on active duty and 4 years in the naval reserve as a naval officer in the United States Navy Nurse Corps. Presently, he is employed by CHI – St. Luke’s Hospital as a registered nurse. He was blessed to graduate in the fall of 2015 with a Master of Theology degree from the Houston Extension of Dallas Theological Seminary. He is currently attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri where he is in his 3rd year pursing his PhD in Preaching.