Leadership

Reverend Thomas E. Guess

Tom Guess grew up in Waverly, Virginia and came to Antioch topreach as a supply pastor in November 2019 which led to him serving as our interim pastor from April 1 – October 1, 2020,through the height of the Covid pandemic.  During the first 4-months of the Covid pandemic Antioch was one of the few churches holding parking lot services where Tom could be found on Sunday mornings preaching from a gooseneck trailer in the parking lot.  This affectionately became known as the “Gooseneck Ministries” and was attended on Sundays by nearly 40 carloads of people from as many as 5 different churches.  On October 1 of that year, Tom was called to serve as Antioch’s Pastor.  

Tom retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2008 after serving 21 years on active duty.  Upon his retirement he went to work for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for many years. Tom also currently serves as the CEO of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), which is a national nonprofit association working in boating safety.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Leadership Studies from Southwestern College, Winfield Kansas and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Biblical Studies from the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberty University in Lynchburg.  Tom plans to continue his education through also earning his Master of Divinity in the future.  

Tom was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Oakland Baptist Church on March 10, 2019.  Tom served as a supply pastor in the Petersburg Baptist Association for most of 2019, where he was preaching nearly every Sunday at various churches and revivals prior to coming to Antioch.  

Tom is passionate about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and remaining focused on being a Bible preaching, Bible believing,Christ centric, and compassionate church.  

Tom has been married to his wife Ellen, for 36 years and they have two adult children, Emily, and Thomas.  

In his spare time Tom enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and anything outside enjoying which allows him to spend time in God’s beautiful creation.  

Tom’s favorite Bible verse is Numbers 6:24-26 ^“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon youand be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” This has become his closing verse and blessing on his congregation after each Sunday worship service.