Biography

Rick has experienced the raw ugliness of abuse, violence and addiction, and emerged a champion of love and hope for inner city street people. Rick emerged from a childhood of horrific abuse to become a powerful street fighter, drug dealer and enforcer, only to spiral into the depths of addiction and despair. At his lowest point Rick met a pastor who introduced him to Jesus. Far from the end of his struggles, this was the beginning of the hardest battle of his life as he fought to overcome the addictions and demons of his past, and learned to fit into a world that he knew nothing about.

Rick is a survivor who believes that every person, no matter how deeply entrenched he or she may be in cycles of abuse, addiction or

despair, is a person of immeasurable value, and is never beyond the reach of God’s love. Rick understands the needs and struggles of the people he ministers to perhaps better than anyone else. He understands because he’s been there.