Preferred Name to be Listed as and State
or Country you live in:
ANSWER: Ric - Florida
Age:
ANSWER: 55
When you accepted Christ as your Savior:
ANSWER: 1979. Raised in church and knew who Jesus was - even
believed He was the Son of God. However, I never had a true heart-felt,
life-changing experience until the second Sunday of April 1979. I was saved at
Idlewild Baptist Church (before it was a large mega-church) :)
I was baptized in May of 1979.
Years in and areas of active ministry, past and
present:
ANSWER: I have been in the singing ministry most of my life.
Called to preach in April 1983, and preach my first sermon May 1, 1983. I have
served as Senior Pastor, Assistant pastor, Worship Pastor, Board Member, Elder,
Teacher, and Youth Pastor. I currently have a counseling ministry. I have a
Bachelor's Degree in Ministry and a Master's Degree in Christian Counseling.
Favorite scripture and why?
ANSWER: Proverbs 3:5-6. When my wife and I lost our first
child someone gave me a little sympathy card with these verses inside. God spoke
peace to me through these versus and I cannot think of any situation in life
where they do not apply.
Your Wake Up Call to your Generation:
ANSWER: Now I am a senior adult. That is hard to really
fathom. My wake up call is that my generation needs to leave a legacy. Leave
our mark. We are growing old, and time is short. Whether Christ returns (could
be any moment now), or whether we go by way of the grave - what we intend to do
for the Lord we better do now!
Three things we’d be surprised to know about
you:
ANSWER: (1) I am a former alcoholic and drug addict. God
saved me from a lifestyle that was leading to either jail or the grave. (2) I
am a native Floridian but I love cold, snow, fireplace and jacket whether! (3) I have written hundreds of songs and play
several instruments - but cannot read music at all. I play everything by
ear.
What are your hobbies outside of
ministry?
ANSWER: I collect
baseball cards and coffee mugs and have a pretty large collection of each.
List some of your past achievements and current
projects that you are working on:
ANSWER: I have recorded several albums, and am currently
working on a new album project. I just finished my first book a few months ago
on parenting. My "day job" allows me to reach a lot of people - many
of which I have counseled and God has allowed me to minister to.
Share your experience in marriage, as the head
of your home:
ANSWER: I have been married to the most wonderful woman in
the world now for 36 years. Never been divorced - we were married young. I was
19 and she was 17. God brought us together and our marriage has been wonderful
- not perfect...had it's share of bumps and hiccups, but solid and true. The
key has been that we work through things together. When we disagree - we let
each other cool off and then we come together to resolve.
As a young man with an explosive, hair-trigger temper, I
would blow up and needed my space. My wife was loving enough to allow me time
to calm down. We both find that apologizing is much easier now than when we
were first married. I think with age and time comes a deeper, more meaningful
relationship. After 36 years she is not someone that lives WITH me, she is PART
OF ME!
What do you hope to accomplish by participating
in this MMofV Symposium?
ANSWER: As noted above I hope to be a help to someone, maybe
younger who is struggling. I hope to leave something behind - handfuls on
purpose for those who care to listen.
What does your relationship with Jesus mean to
you?
ANSWER: Jesus is the constant in my ever-changing life. He
means everything to me. I truly do not know how people survive in this world
WITHOUT Him!
What area have your struggled with most in your
walk with Christ?
ANSWER: Besides the addictions mentioned earlier, I think I
have struggled most with discerning God's direction for my life. Being able to
know just where He wants me to be, and go, has given me lots of sleepless
nights. I find it a little easier now, but I have so many interests; praise be
to God, a few talents in certain areas - that sometimes it has been hard to
figure out the BEST way to go.
I can usually find many ways to go, but that BEST way is the
key - the center of His will....where He
wants me to be.
What message of hope would you like to share
with our reader?
ANSWER: Friend do not waste time. It is too precious. It
will flee from you in a breath. Figure out what God has called you to do and
get after it. Tomorrow is not promised.
If you had a theme life motto, what would it be
and why?
ANSWER: When people ask me in general conversation and
pleasantries "How are you?" I typically answer "It's the best
day of my life!" They usually just smile or laugh, but sometimes they ask
"Why is that?" That gives me the opportunity to testify and I always
tell them "Yesterday is gone - I'll never get it back. I may not be here tomorrow, so today HAS to
be the BEST day of my life! It is the only one I have to work with!" :)
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The Panel of God's Mighty Men of Valor Online Symposium