Pastor Rick Smith and his wife, Betty Lou, began serving the Bethel community in August 2016. Pastor Rick grew up in the suburbs of Chicago before moving to Milwaukee to attend University at Marquette. His senior year had him following God's call to the Philippines on a summer missions program for college students (where he also met Betty Lou). After a couple years of working he began ministering as the youth director at Redeemer EFC in Milwaukee where he served for 9 years. He left Redeemer to finish his Master of Divinity at Canadian Theological  Seminary in Regina, Saskatchewan (now Ambrose Seminary in Calgary). After graduating from CTS, he has ministered in Canada, Arizona, Illinois, and Nebraska, before coming to Bethel. They have two adult children, Stephanie and Michael, one Son-in-Law, Bryce, and three adorable granddaughters.