Youth Pastor Wayne Croft led 17 year-old Ritchie to faith in the Lord during a Sunday evening worship service.  Ritchie remembers, "I had held out as long as I could.  How sad I waited for I never before felt such peace, contentment and relief as that evening."

Ritchie strayed away from God for a few years but on January 1, 1999, he started a path leading back to Jesus.  "When we dedicated Brandon as a baby, I renewed my committment to Christ."

Ritchie's favorite verse is Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

His favorite hymns are "At the Cross", "All That Thrills My Soul" and "There's Something About That Name".

His favorite Christian writer is Dr. James Dobson.

Ritchie expressed his dreams and goals this way:  "I want to know all my deacon ministry families on a personal basis.  I also want them to know my family.  I want our church to continue to wrap its arms around those who come in and soak them in the love of Christ."