Thomas Tyree Adkins, Sr. was born August 20, 1960 in Richmond, Virginia to the parents of Richard E. Adkins, Sr. and Virginia E. Adkins. At the age of three and after the death of his mother, he was given to the mentorship of his uncle the late Rev. Welford D. Adkins, Sr. , former pastor of Gilfield Baptist Church, Paris Hill Baptist Church both in Charles City and Trinity Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. This unknowing to him began his preparation for ministry. At the age of eight due to death of Rev. Welford Adkins’ older daughter, Thomas Adkins was sent to the home of his uncle and aunt and final father and mother, Alfred and Sarah Charity,Sr., where he grew up in the admiration of the Lord and under the tutilidge of all of Gilfield Baptist Church. His early adulthood consisted of two years at Virginia State university, eight years of military service consisting of U.S. Coast Guard, Army National Guard and regular army.

He is the father of three children, Thomas, Jr. , Romaine and Tamika. He was a corrections officer at Sussex 1 State Prison for eight years. He is currently a hospital administrator assistant at Central State hospital. After years of running from God’s calling he finally submitted to the authority of God in 1998 when he was licensed into the ministry by Bishop Lawrence Levi Taylor of Fountain of Deliverance Outreach Ministry where he served as head of the men’s ministry.

July 26, 2003 God joined the former Vanessa Taylor and minister Adkins in marriage and raising her daughter, Lynnessa, as his own. Being obedient to God Minister Adkins founded FlamingSword Church of Deliverance on December 21, 2003.

Then in 2004 he was ordained elder and installed pastor by Bishop Lindberg Edwards of New Bethel Christian Fellowship International, Richmond, VA

He 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 Suffolk, VA. The Co consecrators were Apostle Jeffey Lee of Spirit of God Minitries International of Richmond, VA and Apostle Edward Blackwell, Jr.of Zion Hill Temple of Prayer, Hopewell, VA.