Pastor Rick Bio

Meet Rick

FAITH JOURNEY AND CALLING

Rick grew up a farmer’s son in the Canadian mid-west, the 3rd of four children.  His upbringing environment was very churched, but his first true surrender to Christ as forgiver and leader came at a summer camp when he was 15.  This life-changing encounter stirred a passion in him to share the good news with as many as possible.

So, Bible college followed, (now Ambrose University) and that’s where he met his lovely wife, Johnna. They moved to Johnna’s home state to serve in youth ministry and creative arts at a church in Arlington.  When that church went through a series of transitions, the irresistible pull to start a church for the unchurched was planted in their hearts. That was 1995.  So with 15 courageous souls, in a living room in north Marysville, AC3 was born: a church that would be crazy for people who don't go to church.

Rick’s passion for reaching seekers and skeptics with the reality of Jesus explains his library being full of books on apologetics. Science & Faith (Creation/Evolution) is an area of concentrated study.  In 2024 Rick published his first book: The Two Falls, Reconciling a Benevolent God with a Brutal Earth.  The book explores the problem of natural evil, and how to make sense of the long ages of death on earth before people.

Our Investigations Class is one of his favorite things and he enjoys responding to questioners on our Ask Anything blog.

FAMILY MATTERS

Rick and Johnna's sons, Joren and Jadan were 3 and 1 when AC3 was planted.  As the Church grew and their boys aged, Rick and Johnna felt another unmistakeable calling to leverage the margin in their lives for extending compassion.  So they entered the foster system, welcoming several little girls from hard places into their home.  The last two of these they adopted, Laila and Marley, who round out the Thiessen brood. 

Creativity abounds around him, with both his sons and their wives active on AC3’s creative teams as actors, worship leaders, writers and producers.  He is now a “papa” with 2 grandaughters, Rose and Daisy.

FUN FACTS

Rick has more hobbies than should be allowed.  He plays baskeball at the Y, and tries to keep his handicap under 25.  He's a fan of all the local sports teams, but when Olympic hockey comes around, he only sees maple leafs and Red and White.  Which may explain his strange obsession with the color red.

Rick likes to make things, from oil paintings to chainsaw bear carvings.  The property Rick and Johnna live on provides ample opportunity to built things and grow things, from gardens and goats to greehouses and geese.

Rick loves science fiction but mostly reads non-fiction.  He has read most of his CS Lewis library, with Problem of Pain being his favorite.  

Rick's favorite scripture is Romans 8:31-34ff: 

"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one."