Pastor Richard (Rick) Wood is a native of the very modest surroundings of Brooklyn, New York. In an effort to point him in a positive direction, Rick's father introduced him to Scouting to keep him off the streets. It was here that Rick attained Scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout. In 1978, Rick gave his life to Christ and was the co-founder of his High School's first Gospel Choir. It was during these times that his faith in Christ was beginning to grow.
Rick joined the United States Army in 1982 in search of a career and a future beyond what was available in the ghettos of Brooklyn. Several years later he met his wife Tess and they married in 1988. God used his wife to bring him back to where he belonged...to the Lord.
God's work through Rick has led him to many aspects of ministry work. Rick sensed God's unique calling upon his life to 'treach' (a combination of preaching and teaching), God's Word. Rick was ordained as an Elder in 1990. Throughout the years Rick has served as a Deacon, Minister, Elder, Assistant Pastor and Senior Pastor, teacher, Conference and Workshop speaker, Regional Overseeing Pastor, church trainer and Overseeing Pastor in several churches worldwide. Rick has been a part of pioneering three churches...one in Japan, Honolulu, Hawaii and Dallas, Texas.
Rick is retired from the U.S. Army and currently serves as the Pastor the Pursuit Christian Fellowship, located in the Dallas, Texas area. He also serves as the Overseeing Pastor of God's Grace Christian Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. Rick's passion is in the areas of multi- ethnic ministry, church leadership, apologetics, marriage and moving of people from professing to mature Christians.
Pastor Rick holds a Master's Degree in Ministry with emphasis in Pastoral Ministry. His current church has been noted as one of the top 20 most diverse churches in the nation as a part of the Religious Leadership Project of Ohio State University. He has been married to his wife, Tess for 38 years. Together they have three children, and four grandchildren whom they love dearly. They all serve in ministry together deploying their God-given gifts at the Pursuit Christian Fellowship.