Meet The Team

Richard grew up in Zambia, Africa as a missionary kid. He met his wife, Kate, at Furman University in the music department. After teaching music for several years in the public school system, Richard graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor in the US and Indonesia before moving to Bedford, Virginia. He and his wife, Kate, have four children: Caroline, Evelyn, James, and Annalee. When Richard is not serving the church or spending time reading books to his kids, he is outside smoking meat, working in "Kate's" garden, or enjoying the outdoors with the kids. 

Erica is the mother of three wonderful young children. She has years of experience as a ministry leader in children's ministry at a PCA church in Forest, VA. When she is not leading in children's ministry you can find her spending quality time with her husband, enjoying homemade pizza, high-quality coffee and cuddling with her children.

Is the proud grandfather of three highly lovable, cute, and brilliant grandchildren. He brings years of experience leading music for churches and helping establish church plants. When he is not behind a guitar and microphone, you can find him in a deer stand, tending to his beehives, or spoiling his grandchildren. 

Kate is the mother of four young children. She has served as the women's ministry leader to an English-speaking church in Indonesia. When she is not coteaching a women's bible study you can find her reading books to her four young bookworms, baking something sweet, or behind a camera capturing people's memories for them with her photography business.

Dick is an honorably retired PCA minister who loves the church and cares deeply about God's people. He has years of experience as a pastor, coach, school teacher and Young Life leader. He taught for 6 years in the public school and 27 years in a Christian school (time flies when you're having fun). When Dick is not caring for people in the church or leading a men's bible study, you can find him hunting deer with a bow, throwing lacrosse balls to his dogs, or enjoying the lake.

John East is an elder at Mercy Presbyterian Church (PCA) who has graciously agreed to help serve at FPC because he loves Bedford and seeing healthy PCA churches established. He is married to Sarah. When he is not busy at work or helping the church, he is chasing his six kids through the woods or figuring out how to turn his land into a working farm. 

Mike Ellsworth is an avid outdoorsman and a great deacon who lives in Bedford and is excited to serve the community of Bedford through FPC. He is married to Emilee and has two children. When Mike is not teaching biology in the local high school or caring for needs in the church, he is fixing something around the house, tending to his garden, figuring out how to get a greater yield from his grapevines, or spending time outdoors with his family.