Thanksgiving for the Life of Sally Thomas

Sally was involved with the ministry of the Philadelphia Trust from the beginning of our team service together in Central and Eastern Europe. Initially she supported her husband Paul as he played a major role sourcing food for our aid conveys to Romania and Poland in the early 1990s. As the ministry of the Trust developed and the International Camps became a key feature, Paul and Sally got more and more involved and Sally’s contribution to the planning and organisation was invaluable. She was committed to various elements of that work, resourcing many of the craft activities for the children and supporting Paul in his leadership of the provision for children. She worked with Susan and Rachel in all aspects of the management of the accommodation and hospitality for the participants.

She travelled with Paul on visits that he made to Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and what is now Czechia. Her particular love was for Ukraine, and she befriended many of the participants in the camps and people in the churches she met there. The many tributes that came from Ukraine when she was called home bore testimony to the esteem in which she was held. The words of “Sister Maria” from Lutsk summed up Sally, “She was committed to serving God, had a deep interest in individuals and was admired because of her support for Paul in his ministry for the Lord.”

We praise God for every memory that we as a Trust have of Sally’s commitment to serve the Lord. Her care and concern for the individual has left a spiritual legacy.