Assistant to the Director of Pastoral Care & Mentoring

Rich was born in Martin, TN where he was raised in a Christian home with godly parents who were members of First Baptist Church. Rich heard the gospel regularly and trusted in Christ when he was sixteen. After college, he moved to Memphis, TN in 2008 to begin his theological studies at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his M.Div. and his Ph.D. in Theology and Historical Studies. In 2011, Park Avenue Church in Memphis called Rich to serve as Senior Pastor, the role he continues serving in today. He also enjoys training pastors and teaching theology. Rich currently teaches as an adjunct professor for Union University in the Master of Arts in Bible and Theology program at the Memphis extension. He's written two books (co-authored with Phil Newton), Mending the Nets: Rethinking Church Leadership and Shepherding the Pastor: Help for the Early Years of Ministry. He has also contributed to journals including the 9marks e-journal, Themelios, and the Focused Pastor. Rich is married to his beautiful wife Kristy and they have four children.