Pastor Rick Patrick

Dr. Rick Patrick is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Sylacauga, Alabama, where he has served since 2013. He is a Southern Baptist pastor with more than three decades of ministry in churches across Alabama and Texas. Pastor Rick Patrick has also served in Baptist leadership across Alabama and on community boards in Sylacauga. In 2026 the Sylacauga Arts Council gave him its Beth Yates Award for Service to the Arts.

Ministry at First Baptist Church, Sylacauga

Rick came to First Baptist Sylacauga in 2013. He has spent more than a decade preaching, leading and caring for the congregation. Under his leadership the church has embarked upon the most significant capital improvement campaign in over three decades—a $2.65 million project featuring a main entrance, a welcome foyer, a children's playground, two new lobbies, a remodeled library, additional classrooms, and improved infrastructure.

He sees the local church as a family where people worship God, study Scripture, build relationships and serve one another. His invitation to newcomers is simple:

• Trust in Jesus.
• Join the church.
• Grow in Christ.
• Serve His body.
• Reach others with the gospel.

Pastor Rick is intentional about building genuine relationships with people of all ages. Church should look like a family reunion, with people from all ages growing and learning and loving one another. The Pray For Me Campaign at First Baptist recruits adults to pray daily and specifically for individual children and youth in the church and community. The church values authenticity in church and community life. There are no fog machines, stage wash lights, or ambient pads. Just real people serving the Lord and "Doing Life Together."

Pastoral Background

Before coming to Sylacauga, Rick served for thirteen years as pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Hueytown, Alabama. In addition to the million dollar Reach For Tomorrow Capital Improvement Campaign, he was also instrumental in establishing an annual Hueytown Community Revival bringing several churches together for worship and outreach.

Earlier in his ministry he served three congregations in Texas: Fairview Baptist Church in Rhome, [Martindale Baptist Church in Martindale, and First Baptist Church in Spearman. Altogether, he has served as a pastor for almost four decades.

Education

• Bachelor of Business Administration, The University of Texas at Austin, 1986
• Master of Divinity, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, 1993
• Doctor of Ministry, Dallas Theological Seminary, 2000

Preaching, Teaching and Writing

Pastor Rick preaches the Bible and encourages people to follow Jesus Christ. He often preaches expository sermons through books of the Bible in a verse-by-verse approach. Occasionally, he will preach through a topical sermon series. In 2026, his preaching focused on prophecy with a series on the Book of Revelation and a series on the Book of Daniel.

His sermons and one-verse, one-minute devotionals are available at The Uplifting Word.

Baptist Leadership and Community Service

Pastor Rick has served Alabama Baptists in several elected and appointed roles:

• Moderator of the Bessemer Baptist Association
• Moderator of the Coosa River Baptist Association
• President of the Coosa Valley Ministerial Association
• Member of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
• Member of the Trustee Board at The Alabama Baptist

In Sylacauga he serves on the Board of the Isabel Anderson Comer Museum. In 2026, he received the Sylacauga Arts Council's Beth Yates Award for Service to the Arts.

Family

Rick and his wife, Karen, have been married since 1989. They have two grown sons. Tyler is married to Emily, and Evan is married to Anna.

Karen has been recognized as a Colson Fellow, having completed a ten-month intensive program designed to equip Christians to engage the culture with a Christian worldview. She is also very active with the organization Women in Apologetics. She participates in every aspect of church life, but is especially active teaching a Ladies Discipleship Class.

Connect with Pastor Rick Patrick

• Sermons / Devotions: The Uplifting Word
• Facebook Page: Rick Patrick
• Linkedin Profile: Rick Patrick

To contact Pastor Patrick or plan a visit to First Baptist Church, see I'm New or call the church office at 256-245-6301.