The Reverend Thomas Michael Carstens
September 22, 1945 - April 13, 2013
Phenix City, AL- A celebration of life for Pastor Thomas M. Carstens (Tommy) will take place on Friday, April 19th 2013, 11:00 AM graveside service with U.S. Army Military Honors at Lakeview Memory Gardens with Reverend William Carstens officiating. The family will receive friends for visitation at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary 280 bypass Phenix City, Alabama Thursday April 18th from 6:00-8:00pm. Pall bearers are the Elders of Faith Outreach Church, William F. Hill, James Givens, James Bruce Griffin, Alton Stillwell, Freddie Kendall, Arthur Gilbert, Sr., Richard DePietri, Johnny McCormick, Daniel Roby, David Perryman, Timothy Simon, Jeff Sheppard, Jed Tuiolosega, Roy Isasi and honorary pall bearers are Karsten, Hughston, Ansleigh Grace and Landon, Tommy's grandchildren.
Tommy was born September 22, 1945 at Camp Blanding, Jacksonville, Florida, to the late Carl W. and Lonnie Walker Carstens. Tommy accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour in 1957. Tommy was a Baker High School graduate of the class of 1963. He served in the US Army Medical Corp for six years from 1964-1970. He was ordained by Faith Christian Fellowship, Inc. of Tulsa Oklahoma as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on September 1, 1980 and was the founder of Faith Evangelistic Outreach Inc. and was the co-founder and pastor of Faith Outreach Church for 28 years. Tommy has served as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 37 years. He served on the Board of Directors for the House of Mercy Mission and Each One Reach One Homeless Mission. As a minister, his passion was to communicate salvation for the spirit, soul and the body. To teach all saintswho they are in the body of Christ. To perfect the believer for the works of the ministry of Jesus Christ. To reach out and support the ministry of Jesus throughout the world. To love one another. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Carl Carstens.
Survivors include his loving wife of forty-six years, Deborah Hallmark Carstens, a daughter, Michelle Carstens Hood and husband John, a son, William Hallmark Carstens and wife kerri, grandchildren, Karsten Benjamin Hood, Hughston Hallmark Hood, Ansleigh Grace Carstens and Landon William Carstens all of Phenix City, AL, one sister, Mary Ann Zingler of Shawano, WI, numerous other family members and many supporting and loving family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Faith Outreach Church mission Fund, P.O. Box 1043, phenix City, AL 36868-1043.
To offer condolences, please visit www.shphenix city.com