As a native of Southern California I miss the beach but I love being here at Grace Presbyterian Church. I am thrilled to be starting my third year of ministry as the Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry at Grace.  I get pure pleasure and joy out of spending time with students, parents, and the GYM leadership in various settings. From The Well for High School and Sunday Sync for Middle School to Journey- from the confirmation class and worship to special activities including retreats, mission trips, and playing broom ball or bowling at 1 a.m!  I have a great job. 

I graduated from University of California at Davis in northern California.  A little known fact in Texas…the mascot for Davis is, you guessed it, an Aggie.  After a few years of ministry opportunities I returned to school and received my Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary.  Fuller has no mascot, but some incredibly faithful professors.  

For a number of years, I have sensed a vision for ministry that stretches across all generations.  The incorporation of students into the Christian community is a critical part of the life of the church. I have felt called to be at the center of leading the charge for the church to come alongside youth. In youth ministry, this is about developing a community of faithful adults that care so much about adolescents that they are willing to walk with students through their joys and difficulties and dive deep into their questions about faith in Jesus Christ. Ultimately so that students can take the next step; faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Away from youth and ministry, I am passionate about being a husband and father to my three daughters.  I love to spend time with my family.  It could be at the park just watching our girls explore life or making pancakes on a Saturday morning.  My wife, Amy and I have been married for 11 years and have three daughters Natalie (5 ½), Jenna (3), and Sophia (4 months).  We love being part of the Grace family and calling Houston home.

Another passion I have is cooking.  I love to “whip” things up.  I love to create meals without a recipe.  To create and bring something together to present to someone else brings me great joy.  I love cooking for people, especially my wife.  How the food tastes is important but as my wife jokes, I care about presentation and that is a bonus. 

This passion of cooking spills over into my love of cafés. I'd like to hear from you with questions, comments, or just to chat over coffee...you can reach me in the office at 713-267-5039 or click here for e-mail.

My name is Eric Thompson and I absolutely love youth ministry. I grew up in Houston Texas and now live in Katy. I have enjoyed working with students ever since I graduated from high school by playing in various worship bands and leading youth Bible studies. I earned a Bachelor Degree in Christian Ministry from the College of Biblical Studies in the summer of 2006. I am currently working on a master degree in Seminary. My passions in life are God, my wife, family, friends, reading, music, and playing outdoor sports. My prayer and passion is that young students taste the richness of Jesus and begin to starve for Him as they grow.

I have been the Administrative Assistant for Youth Ministries since the middle of February 2005. For 3 years (beginning in January of 2002), I worked as Administrative Assistant for Single Adult Ministries and Publications. When the Administrative position became available in Youth Ministries, I felt God was calling me to move in that direction, so here I am!

Here is little about myself. I am a native Texan, but spent most of my childhood moving about the country as an “Army Brat.” I graduated from Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt, Germany. I meet my husband in Austin while he was attending The University of Texas Law School and I was attending Business College. My husband, Steve, and I joined Grace in 1996 after moving to Houston from Fort Worth. During our 23 years in Fort Worth, we raised our two sons, Scott and Jeff, and for 16 and a half of those years I was Director of Special Projects for the Texas Boys Choir (a professional Boys Choir.) I was “Mom” to 26 – 30 boys while touring all over the United States, as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and the Bahamas.

Steve and I enjoy spending time with our family – Scott and Amy and our three granddaughters, Megan, Kaitlyn and Jordain, and Jeff and Keicee and our grandsons, Jade and Kieran. Emily, our chocolate Lab is also a big part of our lives.

I feel very blessed to be a part of the Grace family and to have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful Youth staff. Your kids are truly blessed to each of them in their lives.

I was born, raised, and went to college in ‘The Land of Enchantment’ (New Mexico, your neighboring state). However, I have always wanted to be a Texan and will proudly embrace all the Texas enthusiasm! I am stoked to be a part of the Grace Presbyterian Youth Ministry Team and cannot wait to get to know all the awesome middle schoolers! Working with students is where God has placed HIS call for my life. I have been blessed to work with teens and young adults in many facets including college, inner-city, and both middle school and high school ministries! Nothing excites me more than getting to be a part of shaping the spiritual lives of students.

Aside from goofy games, lock-ins, and weekend retreats, I love to read a good book, hang out with my family and friends, be the first to line up for a midnight movie opening, spend quiet time with God, and perhaps one of my greatest delights: capturing moments with my Nikon camera! I am excited to see what plans God has for my life and for my time here at Grace. I pray that God continues to, just as the lyrics of my favorite song say, “break my heart, for what breaks His“, and that I have the courage to “love just like he has love me.”