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Bill Thomas lives in Washington, Missouri. He is the Associate Minister at First Christian Church and an adjunct instructor for St. Louis Christian College and Central Christian College of the Bible. He’s been the preaching minister at Stony Point Christian Church of Kansas City, Kansas and Northridge Church of Christ of Circleville, Ohio. He’s also taught school in Kansas City, Kansas and Union, Missouri.
He is available for speaking to groups and/or teaching and can be reached at thomasw105@att.net.
Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez for Readers' Favorite
Bill Thomas’ The Sixty-first Minute is a “selah” read, it has many “let’s stop and think about it” moments. Life is full of challenges; good and bad decisions are the stepping stones of life. But what if in your dying breath, you were given one extra minute to right your wrongs. This is what happens to Greg McBride. Greg is serving a life sentence at Southeast Ohio Correctional Facility. On a rainy Wednesday morning, after attending the mid-week chapel service, Greg is double crossed by another inmate. Lying in a pool of blood, stabbed in the neck, Greg cries out to Jesus. In an instant, Greg is given one last minute, a journey of a lifetime. He is on a mission, and where it will take him, Greg has no idea. All he really knows is that this journey is not about him.
The Sixty-first Minute proves every minute counts! Bill Thomas’ narrative hook challenges the reader. Using the flashback method that Charles Dickens utilized in A Christmas Carol, the main character revisits the events of the past. Like Scrooge, Greg McBride witnesses the cause and ripple effect of his actions. The plot action takes you on a journey into the past, while suspending the time in the present. Thus, giving merit to the title, by portraying the longest minute ever. The supporting cast of characters is introduced during McBride’s quest of reckoning. As the action intensifies, the significant roles of each character become obvious. Each supporting character takes part in the protagonist's character growth. Yet, only in the last few pages, do we realize the significance and identity of his young side-kick.
From beginning to end, the narrative stays true to the ongoing theme woven through the story - God can change things. One poignant line sums it all up, “The greatest contribution we make to society is when we give of ourselves, even if it goes unnoticed.” However, The Sixty-first Minute proves that God sees, hears and takes notice of all we do. In the end, the reader is left realizing that one random act has the potential to change a person’s life forever.
