Dr. Rick Patrick is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Sylacauga, Alabama, where he has served since 2013. A Southern Baptist pastor, preacher, and ministry leader, he has served churches in Alabama and other states and has been active in denominational leadership, theological education, and Christian ministry for more than three decades.

Rick earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary. Before coming to Sylacauga, he pastored Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Hueytown for thirteen years and served three congregations in Texas.

Rick has served as moderator of the Bessemer and Coosa River Baptist Associations, president of the Coosa Valley Ministerial Association, and on the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and the trustee board of The Alabama Baptist. He also 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.

Rick and his wife, Karen, have been married since 1989. Their grown sons are Tyler, married to Emily, and Evan, married to Anna. Karen is a Colson Fellow and has been active with Women in Apologetics.

Rick believes the local church is a spiritual family where people worship God, study the Bible, build relationships, and serve. He invites people to trust in Jesus, join the church, grow in Christ, serve His body, and reach others with the gospel.