Celebrating the life & legacy of Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood. Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood was called home to glory on February 5, 2012, shortly after delivering an impassioned sermon to his beloved congregation at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Virginia Beach and after a lifetime of faithful service to God.  He was the son of John Thomas Thoroughgood, a preacher, and his wife, Mildred B. Cooper Thoroughgood.  Barnett Thoroughgood began to preach and teach others at a young age, becoming licensed as a minister and ordained an elder in the church of God in Christ while he was a teenager by Bishop David C. Love in 1970.  Barnett Thoroughgood founded the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ with two members in the Seatack community.  He was officially appointed the pastor of the church two years later.  Under Bishop Thoroughgood’s inspired leadership, New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ grew in faith and numbers, becoming one of the largest churches in Virginia Beach at the time of his passing with a wide variety of missions to serve the greater community.

Bishop Thoroughgood served the Church of God in Christ denomination in various capacities and most recently as Second Administrative Assistant to Bishop Samuel L. Green, Jr., and District Superintendent of the Virginia Beach District.  He took an active role in community affairs, serving on the Virginia Beach Planning Commission and working alongside community leaders and city officials to help those in need. Throughout his life, Bishop Thoroughgood pursued knowledge and education, graduating from Union Kempsville High School, earning bachelors and masters of divinity degrees from Norfolk Theological Seminary and College, and receiving certificates from Boston University School of Theology and other institutions. He earned numerous awards and accolades for his distinguished service to the church and community, including two honorary doctorates, the American Legion Distinguished Achievement Award, and resolutions, certificates, and proclamations from various entities.

Bishop Thoroughgood touched the lives of countless individuals over the course of his remarkable life and ended his days as he lived them, sharing his love while teaching and preaching to others.  He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 39 years, Mother Ernestine Thoroughgood; children, Bertram, Emmanuel, Jonnathan, and Mekia, and their families; numerous other family members and friends; the children that he and Mother Thoroughgood adopted, and helped through the Social Services Foster Care Program; the congregation of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Virginia Beach Va.; and the National Church of God in Christ family.

Even though the body of Christ is saddened by the loss of our beloved spiritual and community leader, Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood taught the members of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ to live a life of Holiness, have a heart of forgiveness and live a Godly life on Earth so we can not only see him again, but we will see the face of King Jesus and rest in our eternal home in Heaven.

Elder Adam Lavell Thourogood, Sr. was born June 18, 1970 in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Mr. Otis Olando Thourogood Sr. and Mrs. Sylvia Patricia Thourogood. He received his educational training through the Virginia Beach City School system and is a graduate of First Colonial High School. He attends Tidewater Community College and is pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a degree in Theology. Under the leadership of his uncle, the Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood, Elder Thourogood accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior at the age of seven years old. He served faithfully at New Jerusalem as a choir member, a member of the youth department, the usher board, the acolytes, and the junior ministers training core. Elder Thourogood was licensed as a minister on January 2, 1994. Elder Thourogood along with some of his close friends in Christ were named “The Sons of Thunder” by the late Bishop Barnett K. Thoroughgood because of their zeal and explosiveness to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were later ordained as Elders in the Church of God in Christ by the Prelate of the Virginia 2nd Jurisdiction Bishop Samuel L. Green Jr. on August 16, 1998. While his constituents in the gospel moved on to be pastors in ministry, Elder Thourogood remained faithful in serving diligently at the New Jerusalem COGIC. While serving he was promoted as one of the assistant pastors and was appointed as Pastor of Ministry, which oversees all ministries of the church. He started the school of ministry, which was designed to develop the young ministers in the church doctrines and ordinances of the church. This was implemented to prepare them for ordination. Elder Thourogood was the chairman of the Young Adult Fellowship founded by Bishop Thoroughgood. The purpose of the Young Adult Fellowship was to effectively train young men and women on how to live a life of single piety. He was then enrolled in the School of the Prophets founded by Bishop B.K. Thoroughgood.

Elder Thourogood served in the United States Army from 1989-1993 and was employed with the City of Virginia Beach for 15 years. Inspired by the prophecy of Prophet Kevin J. Harris, he in faith, resigned from the City of Virginia Beach to pursue his own business. He is now President and Founder of ACTGOOD, Inc., which partners with FedEx Ground parcel & delivery services. Because of his pride in the quarter in the Piedmont region and also was invited to a “Best in the business Banquet” to meet with FedEx Ground top officials. ActGood, Inc.currently employs six employees.

Pastor Adam has been married to Lady Charmyn Thourogood for twenty two years. Together they have parented six children, Adam Jr. (A.J), Charnell, Jessica, Aaron, James, and William. He is the second child of six siblings, OtisJr. (Lisa), Karl (Vanessa), Katinee (Hollis), Andre, Amy (Seth), Patrece (Jason), with a host of nieces, nephews and one great nephew. His godmother, Mrs. Sharon McAllister has played a vital role, and is a great influence, in his life.

On May 19th 2012, Elder Adam Thourogood was officially appointed to the office of Senior Pastor of the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, where he has followed in the footsteps of the Founder, and continues to fulfill the dream that was set for this ministry. Elder Adam is a man that seeks the heart God. He has a heart for God, His people, and the ministry. The vision that God has birthed in him is that of developing men and women in their spiritual, financial, and physical lives. He passionately seeks to spread love among the body of Christ and the world. If he could be described in one scripture, it would be the sentiments of David in Psalms 37:23-24: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

Pastor Waddee “YD” B. Thoroughgood was born in the Fall of 1951 to the late Missionary Mildred Beatrice Cooper and the late Pastor John Thomas Thoroughgood in Virginia Beach, VA.  Dr. Thoroughgood attended Union Kempsville High School and graduated from First Colonial High School.  Dr. Thoroughgood is a Vietnam Veteran of Honorable mention.

He is a past student of Regent and Hampton Universities.  He attended Tidewater Community College, where he obtained an Associate’s Degree in Community and Social Services with emphasis on Social Work. He received a Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Rhema Seminary and Bible College. In 2006, he received a Doctorate Degree in Theology. He is an Old Testament scholar. Pastor Thoroughgood has received numerous awards and recognition locally and abroad.

Pastor Thoroughgood served under the leadership of his father at Bright Star C.O.G.I.C., now Church of the Advent.  Pastor Thoroughgood not only assisted his father, in the capacity of adjutant, he was a Deacon, and later an Elder under his father’s ministry.  After the sudden death of his father, in 1979, Bishop Samuel L. Green appointed him Pastor of Bright Star C.O.G.I.C.

Following the leading of the Lord, Pastor Thoroughgood changed the name of the church to Church of the Advent, which means “Church of the coming of the Lord.”  Under the Leadership of Pastor Thoroughgood, Church of the Advent acquired an edifice for worship in the Bells Mill section of Chesapeake, VA.

The Lord gave him the theme for the church: “It is through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fell not…” (Lamentations 3:22). Thereafter, the Lord gave Pastor Thoroughgood the mission statement of the church: “Declaring the truth and the power of Jesus Christ with excellency; challenging believers to live victoriously, grow spiritually, know God intimately, in preparation for the coming of the Lord.”

Currently, Pastor Thoroughgood serves as Superintendent of the Virginia Beach District, National Adjutant Overseer of the Church of God In Christ, and Vice-President of the Virginia Beach Minister’s Forum.  He is the past president of the Virginia Beach Minister’s Forum, past committee member of the Virginia Beach Ethnic Relations Committee and Chaplain of the Virginia Beach Police Department.

Pastor Thoroughgood married Shylene Smith Thoroughgood in August of 1971.  Four children were born of this union: Jennifer Thoroughgood (deceased), Díyan Ward, Yvette Thoroughgood, and Waddee B. Thoroughgood, Jr. Pastor Thoroughgood also has five grandchildren. Pastor Thoroughgood is a loving husband and father.  He is a philanthropist and is concerned with the enhancement of mankind.