Brandan Thomas

Brandan Thomas was raised in Russellville, Arkansas. He graduated from Russellville High School and attended Arkansas Tech Having the call to ministry at a very early age, he pastored his first church as a senior in high school in Onyx, Arkansas and attended seminary earning a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies.  He has served various churches, including serving as youth Pastor in Little Rock before moving to Inwood, West Virginia where he served at New Life Community Church in 2009.

In 2013, Thomas and his wife founded Canvas Church in Winchester, Virginia. In 2015, he became a board member of he Winchester Rescue Mission and in 2016 accepted the interim director role, transitioning to full-time executive director in 2017, as one of the youngest mission directors in the country.

Brandan recently completed ARROW leadership, a faith-based higher education program; is vice president of the Bluegrass District of the Citygate Network; and serves as a board member to both NAMI-NSV and the Evans Home for Children as well as senior chaplain for Winchester-Frederick County Emergency Services. In his leadership role, he, his staff and board of directors, are embarking on an impressive expansion to a renovated 14,000 sq. ft. facility that will greatly broaden the level of service and support to those most in need in Winchester-Frederick County, Virginia.

Along with the call to faith, Thomas has a deep understanding of mental illness, as schizophrenia and mania crippled his father’s ability to navigate the world. That experience from an early age, coupled with his life’s work in ministry and mission, has led to him becoming a respected expert in the areas of mental illness, addiction, and homelessness and a much sought-after speaker. Under Thomas’ leadership, the Winchester Rescue Mission was recently awarded the “Non-Profit of the Year” by the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber. Brandan lives with his wife, of 15 years, and their 3 young children in Winchester, Virginia, enjoying family time, sports and motorcycles.