Fireman-turned-pastor honored
Posted On 26 Jun 2014
WAKE FOREST — As former firefighter Pastor J. R. Ricks Jr. tells it, he went from the smoking section of natural life to the non-smoking section of eternal life.
Ricks, 57, took the reins of his late father’s church, the Church of God of Prophecy on North White Street in Wake Forest, in August last year, after retiring from the High Point fire department.
Ricks has also run a cleaning service, written for the High Point newspaper (both of which he continues to do), and had a radio ministry, To Tell the Truth, which ESPN Sports bought out in 2005.
His father, Ricks Sr., pastored the same church for 55 years and influenced his children by not only teaching the Gospel, but by imparting a strong work ethic.
To honor his work in the church, Ricks recently received a Spirit of Excellence award from his congregation, and he vows to continue to build on the foundation his father left him.
Ricks wishes for his congregation to make an impact on the Wake Forest community and beyond.
“We will offer truth, fellowship and relationship with brotherly kindness, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, with godliness to become a one mindset, soul, body and spirit, without division or separation of the love of God,” said Ricks in a recent interview.
“It is an honor and a privilege to pastor people who loved, respected and never rejected my father or his family, as unto Christ and the church.”
