Pastor Thomas Engro Sr.

Thomas J. Engro was born on January 16, 1978, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He remains deeply thankful for his parents, Joe and Shelly Engro, his two brothers, Joseph and Christopher Engro, and his beloved grandmother, Mary Engro.

Tom spent his formative years on West Washington Street, where he lived from childhood into adulthood. He attended Marshall Street Elementary School, Stewart Middle School, and Norristown Area High School. Although he left high school before graduating, he later returned to earn his GED.

As a child, Tom wasn’t especially passionate about sports, but he did enjoy playing baseball, basketball, and hockey. He also took karate for about five to six years. He always had an appreciation for the arts, drawing and painting, even if he didn't feel he excelled at them. It was the creative process that brought him joy. His childhood was relatively typical, filled with fond memories of camping trips with his family down the shore every summer. He especially cherished the quiet moments spent watching television with his mom, particularly Saturday afternoon showings of “Kung Fu” on Philly 57.

Although the family didn’t have a pool at first, hot summer days in the backyard with his dad squirting the water hose, originally to clean off messy watermelon-covered kids, remain a vivid memory. Fishing trips with his dad and, later, outings with friends to the river and Stony Creek added to the tapestry of his youth. Around the age of eighteen, Tom received his first guitar, a gift that became a significant turning point in his life. Through music, he finally discovered a medium of expression that truly resonated with him.

However, during this time, Tom began struggling with addiction. Poor decisions and harmful habits led him down a difficult and dark path, leaving a trail of hurt and regret. He felt powerless to change and became trapped in a cycle he couldn't break. Amid this chaos, he welcomed his first daughter, Angelina.

Years later, a seemingly brief encounter at a 7-Eleven brought Tom and Stacey Shoupe into each other’s lives. At that time, it was nothing more than a fleeting moment, two ships passing in the night.

Stacey, the daughter of Richard and Patti Shoupe, has a brother, Justin, and a sister, Kirsten. Seven years after that initial encounter, their lives intertwined permanently. Tom and Stacey began dating and eventually welcomed their second child, a son named T.J. (affectionately called Mon-Kee-Kee).

Despite the joy of fatherhood, Tom continued down a dangerous road. It was during this critical time that he believes God intervened. While working one day, Tom was struck by an SUV and sustained serious injuries. The period of recovery became a turning point. Slowed by circumstance, Tom began to feel a spiritual pull, God was drawing him in.

In search of a place to baptize their son T.J., Tom remembered a small church near a laundromat he frequently visited. He recalled hearing the preaching and music drift from its windows, stirring something inside him even then. Drawn by what he now considers "divine intervention", he and Stacey approached the church with their request. They learned instead about baby dedications, and though hesitant to ask at first, they began attending regularly, immersing themselves in the Word of God.

Eventually, T.J. was dedicated to the Lord. Tom and Stacey were married on September 27, 2014. Their family continued to grow with the birth of Melodie on October 12, and Priscilla on January 23, 2018.

Since then, Tom has developed an intense hunger for truth and spiritual understanding. He now spends his time studying and reading the Bible, a pursuit that continues to guide and transform his life to this day.