Senior Pastor Bennie Lee Thompson, Sr.

Bennie Lee Thompson was born June 1, 1932, in Saint Louis, Missouri to the union of Robert Thompson and Mary Evelyn Matlock. He was the fourth of six children. His parents, brothers Willie Montgomery, Robert Thompson, Jr., John Thompson, Julius Matlock, and his sister Bertha Mae Logan all preceded him in death. 

Bennie was educated in the Saint Louis Public School System. He accepted Jesus Christ at the age of twenty-two, almost sixty-seven years ago, at the Pentecostal Power Church, which was located on Easton and Prairie at that time. His teachers and mentors in the gospel were Tony Benford, who was physically disabled, and Elder Coleman, a blind man. 

Elder Thompson ministry expanded over decades. His early ministry was that of an evangelist and teacher. He ministered in the Pruitt-Igoe and Vaughn Projects, teaching from apartment to apartment. Elder Thompson taught bible study seven days a week in the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Moore, now Mrs. Starks, who resided at 2211 Dickson. Mrs. Starks said, "many people were saved, healed, and delivered in those meetings." He preached on the streets and at the Easy Way Laundromat which was located at Thomas and Garrison. He met and ministered to his future pastor, James T. Edwards, who eventually accepted Christ as his Lord and personal Savior. Minister Thompson and David Brown, a friend, gathered up about twenty-nine children from the Pruitt-Igoe and Vaughn Projects, with the permission of their parents, and transported them in a station wagon to bible study every week for about eight years. For many years, whenever any of them would see Elder Thompson, who they knew as "Brother Bennie", they would happily embrace him and talk about how much they appreciated his bible teachings. 

Elder Thompson became a member of the Shining Light Pentecostal Church in September of 1980. He was appointed 1st Assistant Pastor by Elder James T. Edwards. After Elder Edwards passed in 1985, Elder Thompson became the acting pastor of Shining Light. He was officially installed as Pastor in May 1986 by Bishop P.L. Scott at Lively Stone C.O.G. On March 28, 1987, District Elder Alphonso Scott united Elder Bennie L. Thompson, Sr. & Sis. Delorie D. Thomas in holy matrimony. God blessed them with four sons: Bennie, Jr., Jonathan, Darius, and Joshua. 

Elder Thompson held various jobs including Lindbergh Cadillac. But ultimately, he retired from Vincel Pontiac in 1992, so that he could go into the ministry full-time. 
During his pastorship of thirty-four years, he helped many in the neighborhood. Not only did he preach and teach, but he also provided food, finance, and prayer. Under his leadership, the church had movie days with free refreshments for the children. We also distributed free school supplies and clothing to the community. We had many revivals and provided Thanksgiving baskets to many families in the community yearly. In 2007, during the construction of the first Habitat homes in the Jeff Yonder Lou (JVL) area where Shining Light is located, Pastor Thompson, his wife, the assistant pastor, and other members of Shining Light, provided free coffee and donuts to the homeowners, construction workers, and volunteers on Saturday mornings. Elder Thompson received a thank you card from Habitat for Humanity for the kindness that he and the church members showed to them. Pastor Thompson also participated in the raising of the wall of one of the houses on Thomas Street with Congressman Lacy Clay and others. 

The people in the JVL neighborhood appreciated Elder Thompson so much that they petitioned the Alderwoman, Marlene Davis, to honorarily rename the thirty hundred block of Sheridan Avenue. As a result, on Saturday, April 14, 2018, the community held a dedication ceremony in which the block was honorarily renamed "Eld. Bennie L. Thompson, Sr., Way". 

On June 17, 2018, which was Father's Day, the International Association of Apostolic Apologists Institute of Theology, presented Pastor Thompson with an Honorary Master's Degree in Apostolic Faith Theology and Christian Service. The service took place at Grace Apostolic Family Worship Center in Florissant, Missouri. 

Pastor Bennie Lee Thompson, Sr., preached and taught the word at Shining Light until his health began to fail. In June of 2020, at his 34th Pastoral Anniversary, he ceremonially passed the baton to his Assistant Pastor, Evangelist Vera Mae Turner. He still participated when he could in the JVL Community Association meetings. He was always willing to help his neighbors. He loved to fish, play baseball, and he used to always challenge the young people to a race after church. He was a man known by many for his knowledge of the bible, his kindness, and for his humble spirit. He had a true heart and a genuine love for people like his Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Senior Pastor Bennie Lee Thompson, S1: leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Elect Lady Delorie Thompson of almost thirty-four years; one daughter, LaRhonda Thompson-Hill; five sons; Shamsid-Deen Abdur-Rasheed (Leah), Bennie Thompson, Jr. (Jasmine), Jonathan Thompson, Darius Thompson, Sr., and Joshua Thompson (Samone); one God-son Alfred Davis; fifteen grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; six sisters-in-law; Kimberly Glover, Stacie Brown (Lloyd),Tiffany Dorsey (Harold), Ebony Wright (Corey), Shari Bolden, and Lillian Bolden-Rogers; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; the Shining Light Pentecostal Church Family; special friends Mother Ethel Starks and family, Elder David Brown; and so many other brothers and sisters in Christ. He will truly be missed. 

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