Rick Hopkins and his wife Sharon
Rick Accepted Jesus as his personal savior in the fall of 1967 through the preaching of a traveling evangelist from California named Frank Gonzales. His wife Sharon, of 45 years, was instrumental in leading him to Jesus. After Rick and Sharon were married in 1967, Rick finished college and spent two years in the Army.
Rick served a career in Fire and Emergency services prior to being called to ministry. Rick served the last eight years of this career as Fire Chief. He also served as president of Oregon Fire Chief's Association and Oregon Fire Instructor's Association.
Rick served a career in Fire and Emergency services prior to being called to ministry. Rick served the last eight years of this career as Fire Chief. He also served as president of Oregon Fire Chief's Association and Oregon Fire Instructor's Association.
Rick and Sharon were active in the church during Rick's fire career, serving in leadership and teaching roles in the church most of their lives. In the late 1980s, Rick and Sharon had felt a leading to ministry. Their impression was that it would be in a hospitality and teaching ministry to our service men overseas. At that time Rick asked our Heavenly Father to make His will clear. He petitioned God to meet certain criteria if it was really His will. Nothing happened for years making Rick comfortable feeling that it was not God's will for them to become career ministers. In the process Rick and Sharon finished raising three daughters to adulthood.
In 1998, Rick was able to take an early retirement from the fire service. He and his wife planned to use their new found time to serve in their church as servants, changing light bulbs, mowing lawns, teaching as needed and being happy as servants to their pastor. Then in June of 1999 God believed that Rick was ready. He was asked by his pastor with the support of the church board to accept a call to become senior pastor in this church. This did come as a real surprise to Rick. After much prayer, Rick realized that God had not forgotten, but rather perfectly met the conditions set over 10 years earlier. It was not in the capacity anticipated, but it was clear God was calling him to serve in the capacity of Senior Pastor. Wanting to be totally submitted to God's will for their lives, Rick and Sharon could not refuse God.
Rick & Sharon have three daughters living in the community that are committed to Christ and walking with the Lord. Rick and Sharon have been blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren.
Rick and Sharon's life verse:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Since being called to pastor this church Rick has adopted an additional life verse:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty...
In 1998, Rick was able to take an early retirement from the fire service. He and his wife planned to use their new found time to serve in their church as servants, changing light bulbs, mowing lawns, teaching as needed and being happy as servants to their pastor. Then in June of 1999 God believed that Rick was ready. He was asked by his pastor with the support of the church board to accept a call to become senior pastor in this church. This did come as a real surprise to Rick. After much prayer, Rick realized that God had not forgotten, but rather perfectly met the conditions set over 10 years earlier. It was not in the capacity anticipated, but it was clear God was calling him to serve in the capacity of Senior Pastor. Wanting to be totally submitted to God's will for their lives, Rick and Sharon could not refuse God.
Rick & Sharon have three daughters living in the community that are committed to Christ and walking with the Lord. Rick and Sharon have been blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren.
Rick and Sharon's life verse:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
- Isaiah 40:31
Since being called to pastor this church Rick has adopted an additional life verse:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty...
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