Rev. Julian A. Thompson was elected as the fifth Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 23, 2025.

A native of Gaffney, South Carolina, Pastor Thompson accepted his call to ministry at age 26. In September 2019, he was called to pastor Mount Prospect Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC. In March 2023, he was called to serve as Senior Pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Blair, SC. Pastor Thompson is a well sought-after preacher, revivalist, and speaker for conferences and special events.
 

In addition to his pastoral ministry, Pastor Thompson has worked as a social studies teacher for eight years. He also has served as a hospice chaplain with Agape Care Group. While in South Carolina, he was involved in community leadership, serving on the boards of the Spartanburg Chapter of the NAACP and the VISTA Advisory Council. He is also a member of Spartan Star Lodge #108 and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Pastor Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of South Carolina Upstate, a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Anderson University, and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Anderson University. He also completed a certificate in Church Administration from Duke University. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry candidate at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a Ph.D. candidate in leadership and business at Anderson University in Anderson, SC.

Pastor Thompson is happily married to Alexis Thompson. Together, they are the proud parents of three children: Christian, Makayla, and Micah.