Rick’s Story — From Rebellion to Redemption

Rick was born and raised in Anaheim, California, the third of five children- four boys and one sister. I didn’t know him during his younger years, but from the stories I’ve heard, they were a mix of beauty, wildness, and God’s undeniable providence. His early life was marked by rebellion and constant trouble with law enforcement, much like many of us before Christ. If you knew Rick before he met Jesus, you know this to be true.

But God.“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save…” (Isaiah 59:1). God reached into Rick’s life and completely transformed him. From that point on, Rick never looked back.

Ironically, one of the reasons Rick said he didn’t want to become a Christian was because, in his words, “Everyone who gets saved ends up going to Africa.”…and Africa was not for him, he thought. But God, in His grace and humor, had other plans.

After giving his life to Christ, all Rick wanted was to go to Africa—and that is exactly where he spent his final years on this earth: serving God wholeheartedly on African soil. To crown it all, he married an African woman.

Rick carried one unshakable passion: to share the gospel and to proclaim Christ and Him crucified to the lost. He understood the danger of a world without Christ, and this truth drove his mission with urgency and devotion. Until the Lord called him home on December 18, 2008, he faithfully served in Kenya, also making several trips to Ethiopia—building relationships that remain to this day. 

Ruth’s  story: From Rural Kenya to God’s Global Mission

I was born and raised in a small rural village in Kenya, about 55 miles SE from Nairobi—the firstborn of eight, but now seven. Like many children from my area, after finishing high school—the highest level of education my family could afford—I moved to Nairobi in search of work to support my loved ones. Life in the village was marked by daily struggles to meet even the most basic needs. But deep down, I knew something had to change in that village. But I often asked myself, What could I possibly do? I’m nobody!

I grew up attending Africa Inland Church, a ministry founded by missionary Peter Cameron Scott, a Scottish-American who arrived in Kenya in 1895. In rural areas, it’s common for parents to send their children to Sunday school, and that’s how I first encountered the church. Although I wouldn’t describe my home as a Christian home, I began attending Sunday school at an early age.

It was during one of those lessons—on David and Goliath—that my heart was stirred. When I heard 1 Samuel 17:45, “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts…” I realized that David had a relationship with God that I didn’t have. That night, I knelt beside my bed and gave my life to Jesus Christ.

From then on, I got myself into ministry. I became a Sunday school teacher, served in youth ministry, and took every opportunity I could to be involved. That was the beginning of a lifelong calling. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to different parts of Africa, serving others. Whether through physical, emotional, or spiritual support, investing in people has become my passion, rooted in James 2:14-26: “Faith without works is dead.”

Over a decade ago, I moved to America to apply for my citizenship. As an alien, I could do everything a citizen could, but I couldn’t vote, and I wanted my voice to be heard through my vote. Hence, citizenship. During this time, I began pursuing further education, starting with my GED, followed by an AA, BS, and in June 2024, I graduated with a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. In addition, I celebrated another important milestone—my ninth anniversary as a naturalized American citizen was June 2025.

God has been so good to me. I remain deeply grateful for the journey, from a small Kenyan village to impacting lives across continents. God is good!