Richard Sanders

Richard grew up in a home with a Christian mother and father, and younger sister, but he came to his own decisions about Jesus Christ as a third grade boy. He accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord on Mother's Day, 1967 and was baptized two weeks later. He has always been a Baptist, by choice, and in his early teen years anticipated having a music ministry. When he was a junior in high school, he acknowledged to others that he believed God wanted him to become a pastor. He has served as pastor or staff member in eight different churches. 

Richard is a graduate of Belmont College (now University) in Nashville, Tennessee where he majored in Elementary Education, and also had enough credit hours for a minor in NT Greek. He continued his education at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned the Master of Arts degree in Christian Education. Over thirty years after he earned his MA degree, he began work toward a Doctor of Ministry degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has paused pursuit of that degree in order to focus on family and church needs. He most recently has been a part of a course at Biola University called Flourishing in Ministry. This seventeen week course has started a pathway for him to become an International Coaching Federation credentialed life coach.

Richard has always enjoyed children throughout his ministry. He believes strongly that those who work with children must have completed a background check. Two of the greatest gifts adults can offer children are protection and nurture. His hobby might be considered by some to be rather different for a pastor, but actually there are several pastors who also put on a Santa suit during the Christmas season. Richard has been doing this for almost ten years and has made many friends in his work. His favorite appearances are when he gets to read the story of Jesus' birth.