District Superintendent N. Greg & Jerelyn Rickey

N. Greg Rickey , a native of Birmingham, Alabama, has spent his life in ministry.  He was born in Steubenville, OH.  His pastoral ministry spans over thirty-five years as a senior pastor of seven churches in Tucumcari, New Mexico, St. Joseph, Missouri, Akron Rolling Acres & then Arkon First Church in Ohio, Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Trenton, Ohio, Memphis Calvary, Tennessee and Western Oaks Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Greg began serving as Minister of Music under Rev. Earl & Elizabeth Vennum in Nashville,TN while attending Trevecca from 1963-1968. After graduation he and his wife, Jerelyn took their first church in Tucumcari, NM.  He later moved to Kansas City where he enrolled in Nazarene Theological Seminary.  During his seminary days, he pastored the St. Joseph Northside Church beginning in 1971-1975.  They saw growth in all areas and received thirty new Nazarenes  by profession of faith into membership.

In 1975 he accepted the call to Akron West Church fo the Nazarene.  During his tenure there, the church merged with Akron First Church where Greg & Loren Gould served as co-pastors until 1979. 

Greg's grandfather,  John Rickey and his wife Nettie,  were first saved and called into the ministry in a revival at old Akron First Church fo the Nazarene.  Not long after John's conversion, he resigned his good job in the Goodrich Tire & Rubber Company and they took their twelve children and started the Arlington Street Church of the Nazarene in a little store front building.  Arlington Church is still ministering to that area of the country.

Big Spring Church of the Nazarene in TX was Rickey's next pastorate for two years in 1979-1980.  Pastor and people built a tremendous Family Life Center with gymnasium and classes, where they worshiped until they expanded their facilities again. 

The Goodlettsville Church of the Nazarene in Tennessee then called Rickey as their pastor from 1980-1985.  He was elected District NYI President of the Tennessee District during those years and many of the teens they mentored are now in full-time ministry today. He and Jerelyn birthed the first district IMPACT TEAM of twenty-one young people who traveled the district speaking, singing and witnessing in churches, camps, campmeeting, etc. 

In 1985 Rickey received a call  from Dr. Harold Graves, Sr., D.S. and unanimous vote of the church board of the Trenton Church of the Nazarene in Ohio.  The church was in shock over a moral failure in their former pastor and were trying to heal.  During the five years the Rickeys were their pastor, they showed remarkable growth in spite of the circumstances with one hundred and three new Nazarenes received by profession of faith and increase in monies raised.  

In 1990 he accepted a call to Memphis Calvary Church of the Nazarene  http://www.memphiscalvary.org/ in Tennessee. They desperately needed a new Family Life Center with a gymnasium, kitchen, fellowship hall, and new classrooms. So, they went to work to get new plans and build one. The church showed steady growth in all areas and received eighty two new Nazarenes by profession of faith into membership in five years. While there in Memphis, Greg was elected Christian Life Chairman, to the District Advisory Board, and the Board of Ministerial Studies and Credentials.  Jerelyn was  elected District Women's Ministries Director and served five years. 

The Rickey's last pastorate was in Oklahoma City at the Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene   www.wonaz.com 1995-2003. "Over these seven and a half years, a church that didn't believe in holiness, never had altar calls, and was satisfied to live within the walls of the church building began to experience great revival.  They began to develop a passion for holiness that reached outside the walls of the church into their homes, their work, and their neighborhoods. Members became missionaries to their sphere of influence.  It all grew out of regular prayer meetings on Saturday evening and Monday morning surrounding Sunday's day of praise and worship. A hunger and thirst for all of God began to result in altars stained with tears of repentance and seekers after the holiness of God. Neighborhood Appreciation Days invited the surrounding families, young people, and children for fellowship and food, and prepared the way for God's people to love their neighbors to Jesus. The irresistable love of Christ consumed them and moved through our lives to touch a needy world.  Numerical growth was the natural result of all that God was doing to build His church.  Eighty-four new Nazarenes came into our membership by profession of faith and became vital workers in the church.  He also served on the District as District Sunday School Chairman during those years. 

On February 14, 2003, Rickey received a call from General Superintendent, W.Talmadge Johnson, informing him that he had been nominated by the District Advisory Board of the Alabama North District to be their new District Superintendent.  He accepted the call and assumed leadership in February 2004.  Since then he has led the district in planting of five (5) new churches (Gurley New Beginning, Rogersville First, Center Point Iglesia del Nazareno, Alpha Y Omega Iglesia del Nazareno, Ft. Payne Iglesia del Nazareno).  As district superintendent, he also serves on the TNU Board of Trustees and enjoys training and mentoring pastors and laity. 

Rickey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 from Trevecca Nazarene University www.TNU.edu  He attended  Nazarene Theological Seminary from 1971-1975.  He has earned sixty hours toward his Masters of Divinity degree.  He was ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 1973 by Dr. Edward Lawlor at Kansas City First Church.  Both he and Jerelyn are graduates of K-Church School of Large Church Management.

Greg and his wife, Jerelyn, a 1967 graduate of Samford University with her degree in Nursing, have been married 39 years.  They have three children, Mark, Jason, and Shane and four grandchildren (Ryan, Taryn, Giovonni, and Hope). 

Mark graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wallace State University in 2006 with his Physical Therapy Assistant Degree.  He works full-time at Huntsville Hospital in Physical Thearpy & Wound Managment.  Angie will graduate from Wallace State in 2009 with her nursing degree and Mark plans to get his doctorate in Physical Therapy at UAB. 

Jason attended TNU and ONU.  Jason, his wife Kim, make their home in Asheville, N.C.  They have two children, Ryan and Taryn Nicole.  They enjoy water sports, basketball, motorcross, cheerleading, and gymnastics competition.

Shane graduated from Southern Nazarene University in OKC in 2005 with his Bachelor of Arts degree.  He met and married his wife Nicole, a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Oklahoma State University, with her Bachelors Degree in Interior Design and a minor in music.  Shane, Nicole, and Hope live in Houson, TX where he is Pastor of Worship & Music at Living Word Church of the Nazarene.  www.LWNaz.org

Jerelyn is a graduate of Sanford University  in Birmingham, Alabama with her degree is nursing.  She was a board member of  Pleasant Grove Church of the Nazarene as NYPS President.  Her last full-time nursing position prior to moving here, was  Vice-President of Clinical Services at Carter Healthcare, Inc.  She also travels and serves as PRN Consultant for HCR-Manor Care Corporation.  Directing Women's Ministries brings her great joy,  She has held this position on Tennessee & S.W. Oklahoma districts prior to Alabama North. Her great desire is to mentor and disciple women, who will in turn do the same for other women, and thereby fulfill the scripture 2 Timothy 2:2 where Paul describes four generations. Her passion is to "Splash the Living Water" of Jesus Christ with family, friends, and neighbors.

Greg and Jerelyn now make their home in Guntersville, AL where they enjoy living close to the beautiful 66.000 acres of Guntersville Lake fed by the Tennessee River.  Guntersville is named after Dr. Moody Gunter's grandfather, five generations back.  It is a small resort area of around 12,500 people at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains.  Greg enjoys golf and crossword puzzles.  Jerelyn enjoys reading, walking, interior decorating, and collecting antiques. 

Greg's parents are Rev. Norman V. and Eloise Rickey of Guntersville, AL.  His brother Lt.Terry & Jan Rickey live in Wilmington, NC.  His sister Debbie & her husband Dr. Wayne Brown are the District Superintendent of the Northern Michigan District. His brother Rev. Brett & wife Mindy Rickey live in Lakeland Florida where Brett serves as Senior Pastor of Highland Park Church of the Nazarene. His youngest brother Chris Rickey lives in Yukon, OK.

Mr Calvin Biggs, Jerelyn's father, lives in  Bessemer, AL.  Her sister, Jan Alsabrook and husband Randall, live in Hoover, Alabama.  Her brother, Keith Biggs lives in Bessemer, Alabama.

The Rickeys love being back home in Alabama after pastoring churches for years in other areas of the country. They have been privileged to have wonderful, Godly mentors throughout their lives like Rev. Earl & Elizabeth Vennum,  Dr. Talmadge & Genell Johnson,  Dr. Paul & Connie Cunningham, Dr. Mendall & Gertrude Taylor, Dr. Denny & Betty Owens, Missionaries Rev. Marshall & Della Griffith, and many others.   Their greatest joy is fulfilling the charge of Paul to Timothy, "So my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ.  Pass on what you heard from me-----the whole congregation saying Amen! ------ to reliable leaders, who are competent to teach others.  When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. "

2 Timothy 2:2-3 The Message  

Greg Rickey assumed the office of District Superintendent of Alabama North on  February 15, 2003 after a unanimous vote of the Alabama North District Advisory Board and the appointment of Dr. W. Talmadge Johnson, General Superintendent.