I met Rick Thompson back in 1993 when he was a pastor at Moscow Bible Church. Two different groups within newly formed church invited two different pastors to shepherd this community with a promise to each one of them that they would be the senior pastor of this church. One was Rick Thompson and the other was Ronnie Stevens. Both came to Moscow with their families and both were surprised to find out about the promises that were made to them. However, this incredibly volatile situation was quickly diffused when Rick volunteered to step aside and take on more of an administrative role allowing Ronnie to do the bulk of preaching at Moscow Bible. Ronnie blossomed in this role become a legend among college students that were coming in droves to Jesus through the ministry of Cru and were quickly nourished in their newly formed faith by the preaching of Ronnie. In the meantime Rick stayed a little bit in the shadows quietly working on establishing the movement of Evangelical Free Churches of Russia and pouring his heart into discipling young leaders in the church.
Unfortunately, Ronnie’s time in Russia was cut short when his wife got sick and they had to return to the United States. Rick stepped into the role of a senior pastor. This is when I met him and his family. It was easy not only to like Rick but also to fall in love with his family. Rick came to Russia with his wife Jan, his two boys David and Derrick and his little daughter Tiffany. Rick was a great model as a father and a husband. His kids did not just survive their time in Russia they embraced ministry wholeheartedly. They sought to reach out to Russian kids. This was a quintessential pastor’s family.
Rick asked me to translate for him as he preached. But from day one he saw me more than a translator. He saw the potential in me that I did not see myself. He invited me to join a small Bible Study for leaders that he led. There were five men in that group including me and Rick. Rick encouraged me to launch a Russian youth group at Moscow Bible in 1994. It is the ministry that has seen its ups and downs but is thriving today. Out of that group of four men that Rick discipled back then all four at one point or another served in a role of a pastor at Moscow Bible Church.
At the time I was working on my Bachelor of Science degree in physical chemistry. But because I was translating Rick’s sermons on Sundays, I was invited by Cru to be a translator for Dr. Bill Bright when he came to Moscow. The time I spent with Dr. Bright led him to offer me a scholarship to attend International School of Theology. It was an incredibly generous offer. But I wanted to finish my Master of Science degree first and invest two more years in building up the youth ministry before I departed for the US. However, it was Rick who insisted that I take advantage of this opportunity. Not many pastors will willingly lose one of their key leaders, one of their assistants and an interpreter with whom they are very comfortable. But Rick did not think about his comfort. Thus, I left for seminary in 1996.
We stayed connected through the years. Sadly Rick’s wife Jan got sick in 1998 and they had to return to the US successfully turning the pastorate at Moscow Bible Church to Oleg Shevkun, a Russian pastor who recently graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary. Upon Rick’s return to the US he became a district super-intendant for Evangelical Free Churches in Texas. Several years later he took on the same role in Great Lakes District, one of the largest groups of Evangelical Free Churches in United States. Looking back I often thought that Rick could have easily been a pastor of a mega chuch in the US. He had the prerequisite gifts and tools for it both as a preacher and as a leader. Instead he chose to come to Russia as a missionary to shepherd a newly formed church in Moscow. But he left in Russia not only a legacy at Moscow Bible Church but also a legacy of the movement of Evangelical Free Churches of Russia that has close to 20 churches in various parts of Russia today.
Rick attended my graduation from International School of Theology in 1999. He continued to shepherd and encourage me through the years, through ups and downs, through thick and thin, Rick was the steady voice in my life. Outside of my wife and my dad no one believes in me more than Rick. It is not an understatement to say that I would not be in ministry where I am today without Rick. I do not think that I would find the resolve in my heart to carry on was it not for Rick’s calm words of encouragement.
One of my greatest regrets is that I never got to serve alongside of Rick when I returned from the US in 1999. I wish I had 10 years to serve as an understudy alongside of him in ministry. Recently Rick retired from his position of a district superintendent in Great Lakes district. Shortly after retirement he served for a month and a half in the South of France preaching and shepherding two international churches there. We talked about him coming to Moscow to teach pastors and Rick agreed to spearhead capital campaign for Moscow Bible Church that would allow us to raise funds for purchasing our own building. I will share more about it in the upcoming letters. I was very much looking forward to finally working with him on this project.
However, yesterday I received a phone call from his daughter Tiffany informing me that Rick is in the hospital. He was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and was given one week to live. I was blessed to talk to Rick, to pray for him and hear him bless me in prayer. Please join me in prayer for Rick asking God to heal him. It is said that Baptists are often planning your funeral as they pray for your healing. Our God can do immeasurably more than we ask or dream of. While there is breath in Rick’s lungs and while his heart is beating there is hope for a miracle. Please pray with me for his wife Jan, his sons David and Derrick and his daughter Tiffany as they minister to their dad at the hospital. Please pray with me for Rick and his family.
Yours in praying and hastening the day of revival in Moscow and Russia,
Constantin and Alexandra
THREE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Let me repeat mysef, please join us in praying for God:
- To heal Rick.
- To strenthen Rick's family and envelop Jan, David, Derrick and Tiffany with His grace.
- To bring peace to Russia and Ukraine. Moreover, ask God to use this conflict by bringing reconciliation and revival to these countries.
