Since 2002, Thomas Beard has served as Chaplain of Wiley Mission, where he continues to minister with compassion, wisdom, and unwavering faith.
Chaplain Tom is a lifelong servant of Christ with a deep calling to pastoral care, teaching, and chaplaincy. A native of Saint Louis, Missouri, he graduated from University City High School in 1975 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from MidAmerica Nazarene University in 1980. He pursued further theological training through coursework at Nazarene Theological Seminary from 1986 to 1988 and was ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene.
He has pastored Churches of the Nazarene in New Jersey, Florida, and Missouri and served as Associate Pastor at both Wiley Church and Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene. Prior to his current role, he ministered as a hospice chaplain with Catholic Charities in Kansas City, Kansas — offering spiritual comfort and guidance to patients and families in their final journeys.
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Hobbies:
Rev. Beard enjoys reading good books, watching movies, studying history, following sports, and listening to the music of the 60s and 70s as well as classic film soundtracks.
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Favorite Scripture Verses:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5–6
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 3:16
“And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away…
‘I am making all things new.’”
Revelation 21:4–5