Bishop Lawrence S. Thompson

TUE LIFE AND LECACY OF BISHOP LAWRENCE S. THOMPSON

Bishop Lawrence S. Thompson was born on August 14, 1937, in Staten Island, NY to the late John and Arminta Thompson. He was raised in a Christian family. Bishop Thompson fellowshipped at Clove Road Church of Christ in New York, where he sang with many groups at many churches. He was educated in the New York School System. Upon completion of school, he served in the United States Air Force as a Corpsman. After serving his country, Bishop Thompson was honorably discharged.

Bishop Thompson later met the love of his life, Willie Mae Nicholson. The two got married on July 1, 1961. From this union one beautiful daughter, Cheri L. Taylor and two grandchildren, Kyle M. Taylor and Jennifer S. Taylor. Their marriage sustained together for 61 years of spiritual love and happiness.

Bishop Thompson attended the Newark Deliverance Church under Pastor A. Skinner. He attended Bethany Community College, where he graduated from Bible School and taught Bible school in Freehold, NJ

Years later Bishop Thompson served as a Deacon under the leadership of Bishop William Clark, of Antioch Church of Christ. After years of faithfulness with Bishop Clark, the Lord gave Bishop Thompson a vision and spoke a word in his heart from the book of Revelation 3:8, “BEHOLD, I KNOW THY WORKS: BEHOLD, I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR, AND NO MAN CAN SHUT IT. FOR THOU HAST A LITTLE STRENGHT, AND HAST KEPT MY WORD, AND HAS NOT DENIED MY NAME”. From there Bishop Thompson answered his calling and on January 20, 1977, he established the Open Door Church of Christ Ministries, Inc.

In 1978, Open Door Church began in Wrightstown, NJ, and later moved throughout the city Trenton, NJ, at various location: 338 Montgomery Street, 50 Ferry Street, 20 Passaic Street, and 21 Centre Street. The Open-Door Church Ministry had many outreach programs and services throughout the city. Bishop Thompson raised up and ordained many Bishops, Elders, Ministers and Deacons under his guidance and leadership. He established a great congregation of many men and woman whom he would spiritually adopt as his. own son’s and daughter into his family. In 2016, Bishop Thompson began a fellowship with Beulah Refuge Church in Trenton, NJ under the leadership of Elder Jerry Vincent until the Lord called him home. 

Many are called, but few are chosen. Bishop Lawrence S. Thompson was stamped and sealed with the Lord’s validation of what the Man of God should exemplify as the Lord’s good and faithful servant. Bishop Thompson transitioned home to be with the Lord on March 23, 2023, at home in Ewing, NJ, with his beloved wife and family by his side.

Bishop Thompson was predeceased by his parents, John Sr. and Arminta Thompson; his only child, Cheri L. Taylor; two grandchildren, Kyle M. Taylor–Keniebrew and Jennifer S. Taylor-Hackett; one great–grandson, Shawn Taylor Hackett; six brothers: John Jr., Harry, Howard Sr., Thomas, George, and Timothy Thompson; and three sisters: Muriel, Arminta, and Diane Thompson.

His fond memories will be forever cherished by his loving wife, Mother Willie Mae Thompson; one sister, Maria Thompson; two nephews, Tony Thompson (Robin) of Orange County, CA and Howard (Barbara) Thompson, Jr. of Trenton, NJ; one sister-in-law, Esther Taylor; and a host of other nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, friends, ministry colleagues, children in the ministry and the body of Christ at large that was blessed to know Bishop Thompson. 

Funeral service will be 11am Friday, March 31, 2023 at Galilee Baptist Church, 440 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Trenton, NJ 08618. Calling hours will be 9am until the time of service. Interment will be at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA. Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home.

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