Rev. Dr. James Terell “J.T.” Thomas serves as Senior Pastor of Affinity Missionary Baptist Church. A Chicago native, he was baptized and called to preach at Second Baptist Church in Maywood, IL under the late Rev. Wallace W. Sykes. He holds degrees from Proviso East High School, Northwestern Business College (Accounting), Cleveland State University (B.B.A.), Ashland Theological Seminary (M.A. Practical Theology), and Ecumenical Theological Seminary (D.Min.).

J.T. has served as Pastor in Cleveland, OH and Detroit, MI, including leadership at Second Tabernacle, First Bethel (Interim), and New Calvary Baptist Church. He was among 50 scholars in the inaugural Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary. In addition to ministry, he serves as State & Local Multistate Tax Manager at Deloitte, LLP.

He is married to Lady Angela Hymes-Thomas, a Howard University graduate and accomplished business professional. They share a daughter, Jalyssa, and grandson, Xavier. Both are devoted to glorifying God through their life, marriage, and service.

Rev. Mary G. Hatten serves as an Associate Pastor.  Her passion is to encourage and serve God's people as well as the community at large through preaching and teaching the Word of God and through interaction. Rev. Hatten has delivered the Word on Sunday morning at her church and other churches throughout the greater Cleveland area, preached homilies at Wednesday night Prayer Service, and conducted various workshops. She is the Coordinator of the Affinity Food Pantry. 

To fulfill her call to pastoral care Pastor Hatten has a Master of Practical Theology in Black Church Study from Ashland Theological Seminary.   She also has a Diploma of Theology from McCreary's Center for African American Religious Studies.

Rev. Hatten is blessed to be the mother of four adult children and three precious grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, reading, watching movies and line dancing.