About Me

My name is Thomas Rickard, and I serve as the solo pastor of a small congregation in a rural town nestled in southwest Virginia. It is both a privilege and a weighty responsibility to shepherd the souls God has placed under my care, especially in a setting where resources can be limited. As a solo pastor, I bear the full breadth of pastoral and administrative duties, often relying on resources I have either developed over the years or found through careful research. This work, though rewarding, can be quite time-consuming, diverting attention from what I believe are the core callings of pastoral ministry: preaching the Word, prayer, and the personal care of God’s people.

My heart has always been to prioritize these three tasks, echoing the apostolic focus we see in Acts 6:4, where the apostles devoted themselves to "prayer and the ministry of the Word." However, the administrative demands of ministry—such as preparing bulletins, managing weekly communications, and selecting psalms and hymns for worship—can often consume valuable time. These tasks, while necessary, can sometimes draw attention away from the direct spiritual nourishment of the flock. In recognizing this, I’ve sought ways to streamline and simplify these responsibilities, allowing me to spend more time in the work that truly feeds the souls entrusted to me.

This website is born out of my desire to help fellow pastors, particularly those serving in similar rural or smaller church contexts. Here, I share resources I’ve created or discovered over the years—tools designed to alleviate the administrative burden, so that more time can be spent in the weightier matters of ministry: the preaching of God's Word, the leading of the church in prayer, and the personal shepherding of God’s people (Hebrews 13:17).

It is my hope and prayer that this site will serve as a useful resource for pastors, elders, and others in ministry who seek to honor the high calling of shepherding God’s flock. May these tools allow you to focus more intently on the ministry of Word and prayer, equipping you to faithfully fulfill your calling for God's glory and the spiritual well-being of His people.

Soli Deo Gloria.