A Biographical History
Of
Pastor Thomas N. Bristow, Jr.
Thomas Nathaniel Bristow, Jr., was born on April 14, 1954, in Glenridge, New Jersey to the blessed union of Reverend Thomas and Mrs. Deloris Bristow. At the age of 10, Elder Bristow received salvation and subsequently received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and accepted his calling into the ministry at age 14. He preached his trial sermon and was licensed as a minister on April 27, 1969. Elder Bristow joined the United States Air Force in May 1973. While stationed at his first duty assignment at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, he met his lovely bride, Marcella Denise Bailey. They were married on May 22, 1976 and to this union, God added two sons, Thomas III and David Gregory, and one daughter, Keisha Danielle. They are also the grandparents of two grandsons, Davarius and Gabriel. While at Torrejon at the age of 19 he was appointed Pastor of the Gospel Service at the base chapel. The ministry grew from a few to hundreds. The Gospel Choir was blessed to sing before Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and several international Ambassadors from around the world at a special friendship day. He also sang a lead song that was recorded and played on Vatican Radio. The Bristow’s have made their homes in many states across the U.S.; New Mexico, Florida, Ohio, Texas twice, and North Dakota. After going through extensive ministry training in Minot, N.D., Minister Bristow was ordained as an Elder by Bishop Carlis L. Moody, Sr., on June 12, 1986 in the Jurisdiction of Mission Territory in the state of South Dakota.In 1989, two days before Thanksgiving, the Bristow family arrived in Wiesbaden, Germany. Soon after arriving in Germany and Joining Antioch Mission Temple COGIC, Elder Bristow was appointed as the District and then Jurisdictional President of Missions by Bishop Carlis L. Moody, Sr., Prelate of the Germany Jurisdiction. In 1992, Elder Bristow was assigned to his second pastorate at Life Line Temple Church of God in Christ in Friedberg. After the first year the Bristow family was moved by the military to Kaiserslautern. After a year of traveling 1 ½ to 2 hours one-way to pastor God’s precious sheep, he was asked to pastor Maranatha Tabernacle COGIC in August 1994. During the beginning of 1997, the Lord challenged Elder Bristow to leave the military and go into full time ministry in Germany. The challenge was not only great, but also insurmountable, because not only was he going into full time ministry, but his wife also. They both came to an agreement that God had called them to a higher level of faith to trust Him for their very livelihood and lives. They took the step of faith and in April 1997, Mother Marcella Bristow retired permanently from Civil Service. In June of that same year Elder Bristow retired from the Air Force after 24 years. Now their lives were truly in the hands of God. In December 1999, again the Lord elevated this dedicated man of God and he was appointed District Superintendent of First District of the Germany Jurisdiction. Elder Bristow is a tenacious man of faith who is immensely dedicated to the work of the Lord. The call to ministry has taken him to minister across the United States, Europe, Africa, India, and the former Soviet Union. Supt. Bristow continues to show commitment to the vision of the Germany Jurisdiction, First District, and Maranatha Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. His own life reflects that he is “Bringing God’s People into His Presence”, and “Leading a New Generation to Christ.” 
