Our Leaders

Apostle William H. Thompson, JR.

Pastor & Founder

Apostle William H. Thompson, Jr. is the Pastor and founder of Greater Praise Temple Ministries in Dumfries,VA. He is an awesome man, committed to the cause and call of the Lord Jesus Christ, compelling men to come in, that the Lord’s kingdom may be filled. He is anointed and yet remains humble under the mighty hand of God.

Born and raised in Arlington, VA, he accepted Christ at a very young age and became very active as a young man at Scripture Church of Christ, Baileys Crossroads, VA. He has 40+ years of ministerial experience as a Bible Teacher, Pastor, Evangelist, and Counselor. He is happily married to Co-Pastor Etta Thompson and the father of two sons; William Thompson III and Charles Thompson.

In 1987, Apostle Thompson received training under the Prison Fellowship Ministries, in San Francisco, CA. He also served on the Board of Directors as a counselor for the Angel Homes Ministries in 1991.

On September 19, 1990, Apostle Thompson became the Pastor of Praise Temple Church in Washington, DC in which he served faithfully for 6 years. In 1996 Praise Temple relocated to Virginia, and at that time became Greater Praise Temple Ministries. His uniquely loving leadership has spawned diverse anointed ministries, including the Bible Class, Prison Ministry, and street evangelism.

His favorite scripture is Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth”. Apostle Thompson is a visionary that is endeavoring to seek higher heights, and deeper depths for the work of the ministry.

Evangelist Etta K. Thompson

Co-Pastor

Co-Pastor Etta K. Thompson is a powerful woman of God whom with grace, commitment, and passion serves alongside her husband, Apostle William H. Thomson, Jr., as the Co-Pastor of Greater Praise Temple Ministries, located in Dumfries, VA. They have been happily married for 42 years to the glory of God. She is the mother of two wonderful sons and between both families there are eight grandchildren.

She has been serving in the ministry for 29 years and is committed to singing, preaching, and giving words of exaltation through praise and worship.

God uses Co-Pastor Thompson to reveal the powerful meaning of God’s love and inspiration. Through her prophetic gift, God has anointed Co-Pastor Thompson to speak directly into the lives of many. Through her tireless sacrifice, she is committed to preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the entire world.

She has also taught workshops in various churches throughout the Northern Virginia area. She is the founder of the “Keeping It Together” ministry, which serves as a platform for helping to develop married women of Godly virtue, and promoting sisterhood within the body of Christ. Her favorite scripture is Lamentations 3: 22-23, “It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.”