Blue Springs Baptist Church, Somerville
Morgan Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Romans 8:28
Favorite Hymn: “How Great Thou Art”
Hobbies: Watching and playing football, coaching and watching his sons play soccer, traveling, spending time outdoors fishing and hiking
Family Status: Husband of 13 years to wife, Toni; sons, Robert, Nathan and William
Richard Richie, 49, of Hartselle is the bivocational pastor of Blue Springs Baptist Church, Somerville, and a substitute teacher in both public and private schools. He is finance chairman, webmaster and transition team member for Morgan Baptist Association. For the International Mission Board (IMB) he serves as a trustee as well as a member of the trustees’ administration committee and European Affinity Group. Richie has been in pastoral ministry 21 years, serving in Indiana, Maryland, and Randolph and Morgan associations. An Auburn University alumnus, Richie holds a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he is pursuing a doctorate.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: My Grandma Richie. From my early age she was always talking to me about the Lord. She gave me my first Bible. She used to always tell me she could see me as a preacher someday. … In 1981, I accepted the Lord on a Methodist church retreat in Aldie, Virginia, sitting around a campfire. … After the retreat, when my mom met me at the door, she knew from the radiance of my face that something wonderful had happened.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry work?
A: At First Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia, I was director of the Singles 3 (18–25 year olds) department. Working with Jay Wolf (the pastor at the time; now pastor of First Baptist Church, Montgomery) was instrumental in helping me to answer God’s calling into the ministry. Jay mentored me, guided me, and I shadowed him whenever possible.
Q: What do you get from your ministry?
A: I get the joy of working with people in all aspects of their life. … Just to be able to walk through life with people and encourage them in and through the Lord is very fulfilling.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: The biggest thing is their prayers. We always have people who are part of our prayer team. … Additionally, my wife — as my best friend and greatest confidant — is a huge source of support as we discuss and pray about a lot of things.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: I see myself as possibly moving into a director of missions position to help mentor, support and encourage pastors and churches. I especially see myself continuing to be involved with IMB, getting people involved in missions and leading Acts 1:8 missions trips.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: My measuring rod is if Jesus is happy with what I’ve done. … As Colossians 3:23 states, “Do all that you do as unto the Lord.”
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