Rick Hopkins, Senior Pastor

When I was in eighth grade my greatest aspiration was to drop out of school and join the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang along with the neighborhood “buddies” I was hanging out with.

Two years later in 10th grade, my greatest goal had become to excel at high school sports and academics, and see my friends attend the growing Bible church youth group that had reached out to me, so they could accept Christ as Savior, as I had. And by the end of my high school years, the goal was to be a Pastor, like the one who along with his family, the youth leaders, and the extended church family, loved me, led me, and made me feel like part of God’s family.

Since then, my whole experience as a Christian and pastor has centered around the Lord and His people drawn together as a family in the setting of a local church.

There have been three primary local churches in my life where I have experienced and had the privilege of serving Jesus Christ; one in Comstock Park, Michigan that brought Christ’s love to me in salvation and discipleship; one in Spring Lake, Michigan where I  pastored for 20 years; and since 2001,  Plymouth Church here in Oshkosh where I serve as senior pastor.

Wonderfully, all three churches continue to demonstrate the vitally key elements of close identity, close relationship, and genuine love for one another because of the equally key elements of Love for Jesus Christ and an unwavering commitment to the Truth and Grace of God’s Word and the Gospel! 

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29 yrs old; Graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2003 with a BA in Pastoral Studies; I enjoy seeing God at work around the world, growing in my relationship with Him, spending time with friends and family, participating in endurance training and media (road-cycling, swimming, jogging), trying out new things on the grill, playing card games like Pinochle or Hearts, playing the keyboard, rollerblading, hiking, ultimate frisbee, boating (pretty much anything to get me out on the water), water-skiing and tubing, landscaping and being a new home-owner. 

My approach to pastoring - The Bible speaks of pastors as being the "undershepherds" (1 Peter 5:2-4) with God as the "Chief Shepherd," so that is how I try to approach being a youth pastor. Guiding youth and the leaders I work with is a privilege and great responsibility, but it can only work if I am being guided by the Great Shepherd myself. One of the greatest joys in serving as a youth pastor, is helping to train the next generation of Christian leaders. God continues to raise up young (and even "old") adults here at Plymouth that learn to teach God's Word to the youth, provide solid Bible-based advice to them, and multiply their gifts for Him in this ministry. That's what I like to see happening. I don't want to be "running the show," but just doing my best to be obedient to God's leading and sharing what He is doing with those around me in the youth ministry leadership, so we can follow Him together. It is the personal, whole-hearted love of God that is the ultimate goal of this ministry...both for me as a youth pastor, the other adults as volunteer leaders, and all of the teenagers that we get the privilege to know.  

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Marti Schultz, Administrator / Office Manager
This is a new role for me at Plymouth. I have lots of experience in similar situations and hope my experience will help bridge the past with the future as Plymouth continues to grow. Come visit me in the office some time! 

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Jim Stadler, Visitation
I am pleased to be associated with Plymouth. I've had the privilege of working in many roles at Plymouth and as a visiting ministrer to many congregations in the area. I am now in the role of visiting pastor to many of our members and friends in the community.

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