Back in the 1980s, I was a young man without a church. My family had stopped going because of the way my father had been treated, and I was more than happy to stay at home on a Sunday morning. There was no rush to the day, and I usually got to sleep in. It wasn’t until my sophomore year, when a young lady I was smitten with invited me to attend, that I even considered going back to church. It was a small missionary Baptist church in Springdale on the corner of McRay and Gutenson. There was nothing flashy about it. The walls were covered in paneling, and the music was just out of the hymnals in the pew racks. However, there was something special about those people.
Around the same time that I started attending, a family of three also came. Rick and Jody Preece, along with their son Brian, had found Springdale Missionary Baptist Church. It wasn’t long after that that Rick and Jody started serving in our youth group. They didn’t do it because of the big paycheck or the elevated status of being a youth director. (I know sarcasm is hard to hear when you are reading, but rest assured, there is nothing glamorous about serving students. It is rewarding, but not glamorous.) This couple simply loved us and wanted to help. They challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and into a faithful relationship with Jesus.
The young lady I was smitten with moved on to college, but I had found something special at that little church. I eventually graduated from Springdale High School and found my way to Central Baptist College in Conway. Rick and Jody’s influence continued to impact me. I surrendered to the gospel ministry on March 5, 1991, and sought to shape my life by some of the lessons I learned in my little youth group. I stayed in touch with Rick and Jody through the years. When I moved back to Northwest Arkansas, they became a part of a Bible study that was centered on helping us plant a church. However, the greatest joy has been serving as one of their pastors at Calvary Baptist Church of Fayetteville for the past nine years. It was a full-circle moment when I joined the staff here and became one of their spiritual leaders.
During 2025, that circle was broken. Earlier this year, Rick passed away, and this past Friday, early in the morning hours, Jody went to be with Jesus. We are still reeling from this loss. Jody was so full of joy. Her health was not great, but her heart and dependence on God carried her through. Now, she is seeing the reality of Heaven. Her aching body feels no pain, and she moves with the energy she always exuded. There is definitely a Rick-and-Jody-sized hole in our congregation, but we celebrate how they faithfully served and lived for Jesus.
While Rick and Jody weren’t perfect, they definitely left a legacy of faith through the people they loved and served over the years. Rick was a deacon at Calvary, and Jody served as a board member for the Association of Baptist Students at the University of Arkansas. Recently, the board was discussing a time for our next meeting in a text group. Jody chimed in and said, “Whenever works for me, just someone will have to come get me.” Not being mobile and using a wheelchair much of the time didn’t slow her down. She wanted to be involved and continue to serve. Rarely did she let her pain or illness get in the way of joining with our church for worship or service. Until this year, she had sat at one of our registration tables for the Fall Fun Fest. Last fall, even in her wheelchair, she helped decorate and cover tables for the Healthy Church Recharge Conference we hosted. She served and gave of her whole heart.
It has been nearly 40 years since I first met Rick and Jody. They impacted me in ways I shared with them and in ways that I don’t even realize. That is the power of student ministry. It isn’t fancy or lucrative, but it is impactful. If God is leading you to work with the students in your church, talk with your lead pastor and find a way. That investment of time and energy can make a powerful change in the lives of young people.
Be like Rick and Jody and give people Jesus.
I would love to hear the story of your “Rick and Jody.” Join us on Facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity and share your story.
