About Dr. Richard Cryder...
Pastor Rick Cryder was born and raised on a beautiful farm in the rolling hills near Chillicothe, Ohio. Growing up in this rustic setting sensitized him to the glory of God displayed in creation. This love for nature led him to study Zoology at Ohio State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.

Pastor Rick was privileged to be part of a revival movement that swept through college campuses in the 1970’s. Many students were set on fire by God’s Spirit at this time and made decisions to enter the pastorate or mission vocations.

While living at OSU in a dormitory located under the football stadium, he became an unrepentant Buckeye fan. He also led a Christian ministry on campus where he met his lovely wife, Diane. They were married in 1976 and helped found a new church in Columbus before moving to Indiana where he entered studies at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake.

As a seminary student, Rick gained valuable experience serving at two Bible churches. The second of these was Community Gospel Church of Bremen, Indiana where he was ordained in 1985.

After completing the Master of Divinity program at Grace, Rick took his first church at Pleasant Hill Church near Union City, Indiana. This was a loving, tight-knit church made up mostly of farmers who provided one another with tremendous support during the farm crisis that struck in the 1980’s.

Pastor Rick then answered a call to become senior pastor at Geneseo Evangelical Free Church in Geneseo, Illinois where he served for fourteen years. He was credentialed with the Evangelical Free Church of America in 1993 and earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1997. Geneseo Evangelical Free Church experienced strong numerical growth and underwent a major building expansion.

Pastor Rick and Diane have four wonderful children. David is working as an architect in Chicago, Illinois. Hannah is married and living in Chicago where her husband is pursuing a doctorate in genetics at the University of Chicago. Rachel is seeking a degree in mid-wifery in Portland, Oregon and Isaac is a student at the Virginia Military Institute.  

Pastor Rick came to LFC in August of 2003. He counts it an honor to serve a church that has such a rich history of faithful ministry in Sussex county. The Lord Jesus Christ is constantly doing new and marvelous things for His glory through his people as we humbly walk under His Word and in His Spirit.