Home  | Articles of Faith | Trustees | Deacons  | By-Laws | Auxiliaries and Officers | Youth Newsletter  | History | State Convention 

Rev. Michael R. and Sis. Marva Sumbry...

Rev. Michael R. Sumbry is the second oldest son of Rev. Earnest L. & Martha Sumbry of Columbus, GA.  He was born in a rural community in Muscogee County, GA and spent the early years of his life under the rigors of country living – an experience to which he credits his appreciation of honest, pure labor to provide for his family.  Rev. Sumbry received Christ as his savior at the age of 12 years old at Village Baptist Church in his rural community.  The Sumbry family moved into Columbus, GA as he entered Carver Senior High School as a Pre-freshman.  He later graduated from Carver in the class of 1971. 

Rev. Sumbry initially entered the United States Air Force in November 1971 following the path pursued by two of his elder cousins who greatly influenced the young man to go into the military at the close of the Vietnam War. He met his “Bride” – Marva Blake Sumbry of Holbrook, AZ in January 1973, and they were married on January 5, 1974.  They succeeded in raising two children from her first marriage (he does not use the term “step” in relation to them) and they now have seven grandchildren in various parts of the country.

Sis. Marva Sumbry is the second oldest daughter of Deacon Ted and Ruby Blake (deceased) of Holbrook, AZ.  She is a graduate of Holbrook High School in the class of 1961.  While a graduate of Draughn’s Business School in Albuquerque, NM and a former employee of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Sis. Sumbry sacrificed having a long-term career at a single place of employment as she followed and provided critical support to her husband at various military locations across the United States and abroad.  Her forte is music ministry.  Rev. Sumbry is a gifted pastor and teacher and Sis. Sumbry has always provided the musical accompaniment to his ministry – a bond that they believe is the nexus of their unity as a couple.

The Sumbry’s are co-founders of two churches.  They co-founded Trinity Baptist Fellowship of Loring Air Force Base, ME (1978); and Thessalonian Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA (1982).  He served as Associate Pastor under the tutelage and mentorship of Pastor George H. Reid at Thessalonian Baptist being licensed into the ministry in February 1982 and ordained in May 1985.  Over the course of the years from 1986 to July 2002, Rev. Sumbry served as Senior Pastor or Adjunct Chaplain at: Fairchild Air Force Base, WA, Kaiserslautern Army Community Chapel, Federal Republic of Germany; Peterson Air Force Base, CO; and Kirtland Air Force Base, NM.  The Apostle Paul is the internal Bible writer and character he admires most.

His educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management (Colorado Christian University, 1998) an Associate Degree in Electronic Systems Technology (Community College of the Air Force, 1992).  Rev. Sumbry is an avid reader of Christian literature by classic writers including: Augustine, Bernard of Clairvaux, C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, and John Bunyan.  His favorite contemporary writer is the late A.W. Tozer.  His recreational passion is building and flying radio-controlled (fixed wing) aircraft; however, Mrs. Sumbry added that this passion includes “breaking” aircraft too.

Through the years, Rev. Sumbry has been blessed to perform bi-vocational ministry during his nearly 24 years of military service.  Though he transitioned from the military in October 1999, that practice followed him into his post-military career as an Educational Consultant at Sprint PCS in Rio Rancho, NM and his current employer – the U.S. Department of Energy.  He has been an Inspector in the Office of the Inspector General, Office of Inspections and Special Inquiries, Western Inspection Region, Albuquerque, NM since November 2003.  Sis. Sumbry is a homemaker providing the vital support to help him hold the bi-vocational ministry together.  They often refer to themselves as “M&M” – she’s chocolate, and he’s the peanut.

Favorite secular quote: “The eagle that soars at great altitudes does not worry about how to cross a river.” – Anon.

Home  |  Order of Service  |  Trustees  |  Deacons  |  By-Laws  | Auxiliaries and Officers  |  Youth Newsletter  |  History |  Birthdays  |