PASTOR in English Ministry

 

Richard Goers is our English Ministry pastor.  He and his wife, Diane, served on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ early in their ministry and later throughout their lives served in pastoral and church planting work.

 

Richard is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. Richard then did four years of graduate study at Dallas Theological Seminary where he received his Th.M. degree.

 

Richard had been teaching the Bible to university students and young
professionals here at CGC for two years before the elders invited him to serve as the English Pastor. 

 

Both Diane and Richard grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.  There they became the first believers in Jesus Christ in their families.  Later Richard and Diane met briefly in church before they both went out of state to different colleges. When Arizona State University raised their out-of-state tuition, Diane moved back to Omaha where Richard was then going to college. They began dating and later married in their home church.

 

Richard and Diane have two daughters and five granddaughters.  One daughter lives nearby in Clawson, Michigan.  One daughter lives in Toronto Canada.

 

For fun Richard and Diane enjoy watching movies together at home in the evenings when they can. Some of their favorite movies include Casablanca, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Tender Mercies.

 

Beside the Sunday 1:00 p.m. worship service, one of Richard’s favorite parts of the ministry at CGC is leading the Wednesday Night Bible study in his home together with Diane.  He also enjoys lunch with friends during the week.

 

Richard and Diane also have enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). 
Since 2011 (and before that for Diane) they have taught English and organized ESL programs for over 600 people at the Westland Public Library, the Arab American Friendship Center in Dearborn, and at UMD. 

Their ESL experiences have enabled them to meet friends from countries all over the world, the majority of whom have been Chinese.

 

Teaching English and leading Bible studies with Chinese students at the University of Michigan Dearborn was the avenue by which Richard initially met and started working with leaders from the Chinese Gospel Church.

 

Richard enjoys music. He  plays the acoustic guitar at home for his personal enjoyment and also at church.  For fun he is also trying to learn to play the bass guitar.

 

Throughout his life Richard has enjoyed many sports activities.  During his youth, baseball was his life!  He and his friends played baseball from morning till night almost every day during the summer.  As a boy he dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, until reality finally set in!  In high school he also enjoyed bowling.

 

As an adult Richard has enjoyed tennis and golf.  His main “sport” and exercise now involves taking long walks several times per week.

 

Occasionally, he and Youth Pastor Ben try to “shoot some hoops” and play a little basketball in the church parking lot, or toss around a football from time to time. He likes ping pong.

 

Richard’s greatest passion in life is knowing God and helping others know and follow Him.  

 

“There is no greater thrill in life than knowing God and walking each day in fellowship with Him.” 

 

“And what a joy it is to help others learn about Jesus Christ, to see them come to believe in Him and grow in their faith.”

 

“I’m excited about the potential of the CGC English ministry. We are new but we are forming a core of people who really love one another.  I believe in time our English ministry will impact the lives of people across the globe.  By the power and grace of God we can change the world.”