God joined the former Sister Vanessa Taylor Lane and Minister Thomas Tyree. Adkins, Sr. in marriage on July 26, 2003. He worked as a corrections officer at Sussex 1 State Prison for ten years and is currently a hospital administrator assistant at Central State Hospital. She is a retired Benefit Programs Worker of Prince George Department of Social Services. Being obedient to God, they founded the FlamingSword Church of Deliverance on December 21, 2003. The ministry started in their home at that time on 130 Slagle Ave in Petersburg with eight members. February 1, 2004 service was held in Quality Inn at 405 E Washington Street of Petersburg VA. On February 8, 2003 the ministry started having service at Flag Ship Inn at 815 S. Crater Road, Petersburg VA. God brought increase and the ministry then grew to 15 members. April 4, 2004, was the triumphant entry of FlamingSword Church of Deliverance into 101 Highland Avenue in Colonial Heights Virginia. This was just the beginning of what God has in plan for FlamingSword. April 4, 2004 First Lady Adkins was licensed by Pastor and the church into the ministry. She was unanimously voted and accepted by the church members as Co-Pastor on July 15, 2009. Pastors Thomas and Vanessa Adkins were ordained Elders and installed as Pastors on September 12, 2004 by Bishop Lindberg Edwards of New Bethel Christian Fellowship International with the Board of Presbytery that included Minister Joyce Bailey, Elder Durshay Foster, Apostle John Garnet and Elder Michael Johnson. April 1, 2005 the members of FlamingSword took another step of faith and re located to 2645-B County Drive (460), Petersburg, VA. and was there for four years. Another move of God was June 2011 to 2313 Oaklawn Blvd., Hopewell, VA. Pastor Thomas was consecrated to the office of Bishop on August 27, 2011 by Chief Consecrator Bishop Brian E. Outlaw, Sr. of The Divine Church Of Deliverance and Transformation Holiness Church of Suffok, VA. The Co-Consecrators were Apostle Jeffrey Lee of Spirit of God Ministries International of Richmond, VA and Apostle Edward Blackwell, Jr. of Zion Hill Temple of Prayer, Hopewell, VA Bishop Adkins elevated Co-Pastor to Pastor on June 16, 2013.November 2014 God ordered Bishop Adkins and Flamingsword to go back to reap where he first sowed which was in Petersburg, VA. The church started in Petersburg,VA. FSCOD moved to 3323E South Crater Rd. We celebrate our church anniversary in April because it was the month of our triumphant entry into our first building and we do not want to take away from the birth of Christ by celebrating it in December. The mission God has given to Bishop Adkins and Pastor Adkins is to em- power the people of God with the flaming sword , which is the WORD OF God combined with the power of God which is the HOLY SPIRIT.With this combination, we the people of God, shall reign with God forever. As God has brought increase to the ministry, He has also brought increase to their personal lives. His people will be empowered to new life, prosperity, deliverance and most of all salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are a family of believers in the fieryand cleansing word of God. We thank you in advance for your prayers and donations to assist us in building up the Kingdom. Bishop Adkins is not only the Senior Pastor of FlamingSword , he is the Overseer of Heart to Heart Church Ministry in Lynchburg VA Pastor Cynthia Okemmuo. May 2017 God blessed FlamingSword to purchase it's first building at 200 South Sycamore Street Petersburg, VA. God provided Bishop Adkins and his flock to labor earnestly for the next six months to renovate the building upon moving into the new home on November 26, 2017. This is the beginning of more work that God has planned for Bishop Adkins and FlamingSword.