Pastor Schellhardt
Rick Schellhardt grew up in Granite City, IL (metro area of STL, MO) for thirty-plus years under the ministry of his spiritual "Father" in the Lord, Pastor Kenneth Reeves. Pastor Schellhardt felt a call on his life early, even while attending the Christian Academy there at the church. During school, this burden for ministry and souls would sometimes cause him to skip his lunch time and make his way into the empty sanctuary of the church where God would talk to him and hear his cries to oneday be used for His glory.
Shortly after graduating in 1986, He began ministering in his local church. He would go on to be used on the ministry team involved in preaching, teaching classes, outreach, the praise team and choir.
In 1991, at age 23, he married his high school sweetheart. Rick & Kathy have now been married for 15 years (Oct, '91). Kathy also grew up in Granite City and graduated from the same Christian Academy.
Rick and Kathy remained faithful to their church in Granite City until God called them to Cape Girardeau, MO in 2003 where he served on the Ministry Team working with a fantastic Pastor, Darrell Faire. He also served as Youth Pastor for the year and a half they were there. The hands-on training they received there, partnered with the years of solid Bible teaching in their home church, together began sharpening their skills for what God was about to call them to in their lives.
Pastor Rick often found the floor of his office at their home in Cape the meeting place for God's presence, as the Lord was stirring his heart with a burden to plant a church in Lees Summit. Night after night, the Lord would wake him to go pray until finally his heart was consumed with a burning passion.
In September of 2004, Rick and his family drove into Lees Summit in their moving van with a zeal and burden to reach Lees Summit for Christ. Soon after settling in, they began having Bible studies and home fellowship in their home. God began sending people to them.
God was also using their children in the process too. The children got excited about it and started making new friends at school and telling them why they had moved to Lees Summit. They reached two families because of this and have now been coming faithfully each week.
After over a year of Home Fellowship at pastor's home, they launched their public services of Summit Life Community Church in October of 2006 located in the worship facilities of Grace Church of Lees Summit. Home Fellowship groups will continue to meet weekly in their home, but will come together corporately for a time of praise and worship in a celebration service every Sunday.
"We are truly excited for what is transpiring here in Lees Summit. Our communities are so hungry for God, and our church reflects that passion. We have stepped into a time and season of unprecidented revival. We claim that for Lees Summit and for SUMMIT LIFE Community Church."
- Pastor Rick Schellhardt