2701 ALLENTOWN ROAD LIMA, OH 45805
YMI STAFF
Rich Rakay
Rich has been involved in ministry since he was a teenager and desires to inspire others to serve God at any age. He grew up in Port Clinton, OH and attended LaPointe United Methodist Church. He was a youth representative for his local church, district, and conference throughout high school. Upon graduation, Rich served four years in the United States Marine Corps. When his enlistment was up, he moved to Lima OH to manage an insulation contracting company. At this time, he graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with a Bachelors of Business Administration. His faith naturally led him to get involved in a local church and that led to Teens For Christ.
He volunteered with the ministry in various chapter roles from 1999-2003. In 2002, he answered the call to full-time pastoral ministry. While pastoring, Rich continued to support TFC by serving a term on the Board, being a guest speaker at chapters, and teaching church history and theology to the Answer The Call Interns. He has led many disaster relief mission trips around the US and over the course of ten trips has taught hundreds of ministry leaders in East Africa.
Rich brings his experience as a pastor, hospital chaplain, military chaplain, and TFC volunteer to bear as he leads the Youth Ministry Institute. He is well acquainted with the ups and downs of vocational ministry and everyday life. He knows the drift that can happen if one is not intentionally focused on growing as a follower of Christ. He knows the distractions that derail ministries from accomplishing their primary purpose of making disciples (i.e. fully-committed followers of Jesus Christ). He is passionate about investing in faithful believers who will be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).
