Pastoral Staff - Tom Aylward

Tom Aylward
Associate Pastor

Tom has served at Southwest for more than 20 years. The first 12 years, he was an administrative assistant/administrator of Southwest Bible Church and Southwest Christian School. Later he took on the role of Associate Pastor, which encompasses a variety of relational roles--from individual counseling and discipleship to small group ministry leadership development. "I enjoy working with people and encouraging them in their spiritual journey of becoming more like Christ," shares Tom.

Tom's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Multnomah Biblical Seminary.

In 1979, while working with the USDA in Virginia, Tom was promoted to a position in Portland, Oregon, and the couple soon relocated. Later that year, Tom's wife, Lou, was invited to a Christian Women's Club meeting where she heard the Gospel and accepted Christ as her Savior. Six months later, Tom came to Christ through a farmer who shared John 10:10 with him. Four months later, Tom and Lou were invited to Progress Bible Church (now Southwest Bible Church) and have enjoyed the deep teaching and great fellowship ever since.

Tom and Lou have been married 31 years and they have six kids (three married with four grandchildren). Tom appreciates Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart." His life verses are 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.

Click here to send Tom an e-mail.