Current Status: Alumni
Graduation Year: 1996
Hope alumnus Rick Redding (MA'96) earned his Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1996. He is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission in Reno, Nevada, where he oversees a staff of 25. The Mission provides many homeless services in the Northern Nevada area, including housing for up to 250 men, women, and children each night and serving approximately 500 meals each day, as well as a 12-month free residential alcohol and drug recovery program with about 90 men and women currently enrolled. In addition to overseeing all operations, Redding runs the low-cost outpatient Christian counseling service available through the Mission, which provides marriage counseling for the community as well as a reliable referral for pastors and churches in the area. Redding counsels many of the participants with addictions as well as those struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anger, anxiety, and an assortment of other issues.
Redding was attracted to Hope's School of Graduate Studies for it's strong emphasis on servant leadership, focus on quality of work, and hands-on practical experience opportunities. He is thankful for his decision to pursue a stronger foundation in his faith through his education at Hope. "I believe my Masters degree from (Hope) has helped give me the overall biblical knowledge and leadership qualities I have needed to reach the lost and hurting for Christ. My time there was invaluable and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat."
His passion for ministering to hurting people and strengthening families has opened many doors for Redding. He served as a founding member of Sierra Harvest Ministries, an organization similar to Promise Keepers that provides first-class Christian events for men. In addition, he and his wife Charlotte led a marriage ministry, 2 for 1 Marriage Ministries, and conducted monthly marriage seminars at a local church for 6 years until God led them to start another church. Redding and his wife have begun training to become speakers for Enjoying Marriage Ministries, an international outreach that has touched approximately 500,000 couples. Through this organization, they will conduct seminars encouraging and helping couples to strengthen their marriage through Christ. And finally, together with fellow alumnus Dan Dix (MA '93), Redding and his wife founded Outlook Christian Church in Reno, Nevada. The couple conducts regular marriage activities through their church and bi-monthly seminars at two of the larger churches in the area. Redding anticipates receiving his ordination through Outlook Christian Church later this year.
"I believe my Masters degree from (Hope) has helped give me the overall biblical knowledge and leadership qualities I have needed to reach the lost and hurting for Christ. My time there was invaluable and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat."
