ABOUT US
Our History
The chronology of Greater Vision Church, Inc.
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2008 - Pastor Billy L. Thompson and family starts Greater Vision Universal Ministries (GVUM) bible study in their home.
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2009 - GVUM begins organized worship services and bible study at first location on front street.
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2010 - GVUM moved to Crescentville Rd. where they had their first Vision Conference with Pastor Ray Barnard and Minister Granger T. Simmons. Later that year they transitioned to Triumph Blue on Wingohocking St. where GVUM became Greater Vision Church (GVC).
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2011 - GVC experienced growth in membership and ministries. L.O.V.E. (Ladies of Victory & Excellence) had their first event, along with Food Share, Heir Force, Famuily Crusade, Healing Summit, and The Mountain Moving Faith Conference with Pastor Billy L. Thompson Jr., Dr. Mike Freeman, and Dr. Donte Hickman.
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2012 - GVC continues to bring souls into the kingdom through outreach ministries with flash mob evangelism, adopt a block for Christmas, L.O.V.E.'s Mother's Day Tea, monthly Food Share Program, and Tent Revivals.
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2013 - Triumph Blue was purchased and GVC had to transition to its third location. We faced ministry challenges due to sharing a facility, which reduced ministry activities and caused a decline in membership. Pastor and leadership continued to pray for a permanent location.
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2014 - GVC moves to their permanent location at 221 E. Logan St. All ministries are reinstated, community outreach is flourishing, and membership is increasing. Pastor Billy opens satelite ministry at Recovery King. Philadelphia University interns develop landscaping plans. GVC partners with City of Philadelphia for clean up of Stenton Ave Corridor, and Pastor receives citation from City Councilwoman Cindy Bass.
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2015 - The year of Visitation, Manifestation, and Demonstration. GVC continues to grow, souls being saved, community members joining, miraculous healing testimonies received, and property renovations under way. This is just the BEGINNING!!!
About Rev. Dr. Billy L. Thompson Jr.
Rev. Dr. Billy Thompson Jr. was raised in Wilmington, N.C. by Elder Billy Thompson Sr. (Whiteville, N.C.) and the late Rebecca Canty Thompson (Kingstree, S.C.) Rev. Thompson is the pastor of Adonai United Baptist Church and he is the Founder/Pastor of Greater Vision Church in Philadelphia, PA.
Being raised in the Holiness church, Pastor Billy served as Minister of Music for his father’s congregants for over 15 years. He then moved to Durham, NC to work as a songwriter for the First Lady of Gospel, Pastor Shirley Caesar and to accept another Minister of Music position for Rogers Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
After serving Rogers Grove for three years, Pastor Billy was asked to relocate to Philadelphia to assist his father after the Elder was called to pastor Mt. Zion F.B.H. church, which was formerly on Cecil B. Moore Ave. Pastor Billy helped his parents transition to the city life and after three years, he accepted the position as Minister of Music at the Philippian Baptist Church where Dr. S. Amos Brackeen was the founder/Pastor.
Rev. Thompson served at Philippian Baptist Church for twelve years and was licensed to preach January 9, 2005 by Rev. Arlington Medley. Many souls were blessed and added to the Kingdom by his ministry but God was calling Pastor Billy to another work.
In 2009, Rev. Thompson founded the Greater Vision Church and after a divine intervention, he was connected to the Rev. Dr. James S. Hall Jr. and the Triumph Baptist Church. Greater Vision Church worshipped at Triumph Blue for three years and continued the legacy of Triumph in the community by block-by-block evangelism and the Food-share program.
One of Rev. Thompson's favorite quotes is “how we walk with the broken speaks louder than how we sit with the great.” In January 2013, Rev. Thompson and Greater Vision Church began a partnership with Recovery King, a recovery residence that provides safe and supportive housing for individuals recovering from substance abuse challenges. They have provided residences with ongoing support and ancillary services that include engagement, evaluation of the residence’s strengths and challenges, service planning, life skills, spiritual guidance, goal setting, and coaching.
In 2014, Rev. Thompson was called to Adonai United Baptist Church in the Lower Germantown/Logan section of Philadelphia and for years the blended congregations have served the community by sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Pastor Billy also authored a mini-book titled “Your First Offering” that became a Best Seller on Amazon. In 2019 Rev. Thompson graduated Summa Cum Laude from J&J Patterson school of Theology. He believes in creating change and being a active part in the community.
Pastor Billy is married to Lady Sheena Thompson and they have two daughters Zion (11) and Brielle (8)
Organizations thats he is involved in.
Vice Moderator at Large of (PEBKA) Pennsylvania Eastern Baptist Keystone Association.
Black Clergy of Philadelphia
Baptist Ministers Conference
Get in Touch
221-27 E. Logan St.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 908 7911 / (800) 360 3188