Outlining the Lead Pastor

Me and Mine

I was born in southern Illinois a little over fifty years ago and still speak with a hint of the south overlaid by two decades in Chicago. My wife and I just celebrated our twenty-second anniversary and we are blessed with the two greatest kids in the world (in case you were wondering where they were).

Our busy household includes a cairn terrier, a frog, and a turtle. We enjoy camping, reading together as a family, playing board games, memorizing Broadway soundtracks and Monty Python skits, and watching Lost. I like to play chess and read the New York Times (although not at the same time). Public radio is a constant companion and when I'm depressed I dream of moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico. When I'm not depressed (which is most of the time thank God!) I like living in Evanston and pastoring Reba Place Church.

Me and Jesus

I was raised in a small town, was baptized in a small church and grew up with a very small faith. In 1974 a United Methodist minister (Rev. John Kovalcik now of Eureka Springs, Arkansas) introduced me to Jesus and the Kingdom. It changed my life.

I have learned and unlearned a lot about Jesus over the last thirty years.

I have learned and unlearned a lot about Jesus over the last thirty years. I've met wonderful people who loved Jesus a lot more than I did, and some of that began to rub off. I read about people who read about Jesus and some of that rubbed off. I learned how to walk with Jesus day by day and through hanging out with him some of that began to rub off! As the pastor of this congregation it is my job to keep reminding everyone (and myself) that Jesus really meant what he said, and when we take him seriously we find the abundant life and the fullness of joy that he promised (John 10:10, 15:15).

Me and Reba

My wife and I and a new baby daughter arrived at Reba Place in 1990, looking for faith and fellowship. I identified strongly with Reba's Anabaptist identity, especially in the areas of nonviolence, community and a catholic (small c) ethos. In the fall of 2000 after several years of informal congregational leadership, I was invited to join RPC's pastoral staff and then in 2002 became the Lead Pastor.

I am passionate about Reba's heritage, but even more passionate about our future.

I am passionate about Reba's heritage, but even more passionate about our future. I believe God has placed Reba Place Church in Evanston for such a time as this. God is doing a new thing among us and we are living out the way of Jesus with vision and hope. I would love to have you come for a visit and let us get to know each other. I still believe the words of the old gospel hymn that said, "It is no secret what God can do. What he's done for others, he'll do for you".

Ric Hudgens
May, 2006