Tom Holmes has worked in multicultural situations for most of his adult life. He was a student at Tuskegee Institute when Dr. King was killed and taught for two years at Colegio San Antonio Abadin Puerto Rico. An ordained pastor, he served in a multicultural congregation in the near west suburbs of Chicago for 25 years and has been working with St. Paul Thai Lutheran Church since 1992. His Doctor of Ministry thesis explored the role of identity in the transformation of congregations in changing neighborhoods. Hehas been to Thailand eleven times. At present he writes on religion for the Wednesday Journal and the Forest Park Review.

His two previous books are Forty Days Alone in Thailand: Jesus, the Buddha,Thai Culture and My Self and Pongsak, Advocate for Asian Ministries.