Dr. Gwendolyn Thomas

 

gwen2  Dr. Gwen has served in various church leadership roles since 1988. However, most of her experiences since 1993 have been in her local churches as praise and worship leader; choir director of children, adult, and university choirs; and minister of music leading the arts ministries of dance, flags, and chief musicians. She has also served as intercessory prayer leader and minister of education. In addition, Gwen has written numerous praise and worship songs including a 30-cast musical drama with seven original songs in 1990. She has conducted workshops with praise and worship teams as well as their congregations across the country. She holds a PhD in Education Administration (1999) and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction (1996)—both from Indiana State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University (1984).

 

gwen2  Dr. Gwen has served in various church leadership roles since 1988. However, most of her experiences since 1993 have been in her local churches as praise and worship leader; choir director of children, adult, and university choirs; and minister of music leading the arts ministries of dance, flags, and chief musicians. She has also served as intercessory prayer leader and minister of education. In addition, Gwen has written numerous praise and worship songs including a 30-cast musical drama with seven original songs in 1990. She has conducted workshops with praise and worship teams as well as their congregations across the country. She holds a PhD in Education Administration (1999) and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction (1996)—both from Indiana State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University (1984).

Vocal History:

Anointed! The word that is most commonly used when listening to and describing the music Gwen has created for praise and worship. Since she was a little girl growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Gwen has been singing the praises of the Lord. She first began by singing in her local church choir and also with her four sisters, as “The Lee Sisters.” Throughout the 1970s Gwen and her sisters performed in various churches throughout Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Amite, and other southeastern areas of the state. Their repertoire of music included works by the Clark Sisters, Tramaine Hawkins, Shirley Ceasar, and many other popular artists of that time. During middle and high school, Gwen has been selected for honor choirs and received vocal scholarships to both Louisiana State University and Southeastern Louisiana University. As Gwen began college in 1981, she joined the Southeastern Louisiana University Gospel Choir under the direction of Evangelist Hilda R. Porter where she learned to expand her vocal abilities and connect with audiences to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through perfecting her gift of singing. Over the years, she has performed as a lead singer in various state, local, and regional choirs, guest soloist for concerts, and special gospel events across the country from Virginia to California.

Musical Creativity:

Gwen began creating songs in 1985 when she wrote a wedding song to her husband entitled “God Bless Our Love.” This followed by a song to her mother entitled “Mama, I Love You” that is featured on her debut CD. A few years later, she wrote the script, and seven original songs to a musical drama she directed in 1990 entitled “Judgment Day.” After moving to Indiana, she became the praise and worship leader at her local church after attending the See His Glory Symposium at West Angeles, COGIC under the leadership of Dr. Judith Christie McAllister and Kurt Carr. Since that experience—and two additional symposia—Gwen has been writing praise and worship songs with the sole purpose of glorifying and honoring God and edifying the people. During her experience as praise and worship leader at her local church in Virginia, she released her first single in 2010 entitled “Tell Me When” and received Recording Artist of the Year Award from KR Music Studio in the same year. Gwen also won the 2014 VEER Magazine Gospel Artist of the Year Award as well. Gwen often refers to her songs as “downloads from heaven” because she has only recorded music that has “come to her” during her intimate moments with God. Her debut CD was released in 2013 and two singles are scheduled for summer and fall of 2013.

Seminars and Workshops:

Exciting, engaging, and enlightening are the words that often describe the interactive training sessions Gwen conducts with praise teams, choirs, and congregations across the country. For the past 20 years, Gwen has conducted training sessions and seminars on the power of praise and worship, the benefits and challenges of leading worship teams and choirs, and demonstrating accountability to leadership responsibilities in ministry. Her style often includes a well-balanced blend of humor, honesty, and the transparency of her own life that engages and connects with the audience. These empowering experiences, built upon the Word of God, are practical, timely, and relevant to the realities of day-to-day Christian living and leadership. The workshops and seminars often result in a transformative experience where the participants are better equipped to create the music, set the atmosphere, and embrace the experience of God’s awesome presence. All of Gwen’s sessions begin with prayer and an assessment to ensure that the workshops are custom-designed to the needs of the respective ministries. The sessions and seminars end with action steps and strategies that allow for continued growth beyond the training. Whether Gwen is conducting a one-hour or one-week training with a few, or a seminar with several thousand, the anointing of God always equips her to meet the needs of the people to ensure the perfecting of the saints in the body of Christ.

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