Leadership
Meet Our Team
Please note that, while all of our pastors and deacons have specific roles and responsibilities, they are all available for ministry in our church family and community. They work together as a team to make sure Jesus Christ is honored, the church is cared for, the gospel is prioritized, and needs are met.
Nick Drake
Lead Pastor
Nick has served as the Lead Pastor of Richland Baptist Church since 2013. He and his wife, Marsha, have five children – Noah, Levi, Silas, Zoe and Micah. Nick is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and Midwestern Seminary. Prior to joining Richland, Nick and Marsha served in Central Asia for six years, and before that Nick served as a youth pastor for Missouri Valley Baptist Church in Halls, MO.
Email: nick@myrichland.org
Facebook: @nicholas.drake
Twitter: @nicholas_drake
Instagram: @nicholasdaviddrake
Website: drakecity.com
Scot Thomson
Associate Pastor
Scot has been Richland’s Associate Pastor since December 2021. From 2012 through 2021, Scot served as Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in California, MO. In 2011, he earned his Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He and his wife, Lydia, have four children: Reese, Owen, Audrey, and Hope, and live in the beautiful Windsor Valley.
Email: scot@myrichland.org
Facebook: @scotat
Twitter: @justplainscot
Instagram: @scotat
Carson Humphreys
Pastor of Senior Adults
Carson has been a member of Richland since 2001 and served as a deacon from 2007-2023. Along with being one of our pastors, Carson is a family group leader and fills in as a supply preacher for Richland and other churches in the area. After growing up in Fulton and attending Northwest Missouri State University, Carson returned to Callaway County and is now an agriculture/commercial lender for Callaway Bank. He and his wife, Katie, have four sons.
Email: carsonhumphreys@hotmail.com
Ron Forbis
Pastor of Discipleship
Ron has been a member of Richland since 2016 and served as a deacon from 2017-2023. Along with his current roles as a pastor and a Discipleship Accountability Group (DAG) leader, Ron serves our church family in other ministries, as he preaches occasionally, helps with our audio/visual ministry, and plays bass or acoustic guitar with our praise team. Previously the interim pastor of Reform Baptist Church in Steedman, MO, Ron loves to preach God’s Word and disciple followers of Jesus. He and his wife, Jean, have three children and two grandchildren.
Email: pastorronforbis@gmail.com
Preston Thompson
Pastor of Missions
Preston has been a member of Richland since 2016, after he became the Director of Missions for what is now the Heart of Missouri Baptist Association. Before that, Preston served in vocational youth ministry for over 10 years. One of our pastors since 2023, Preston works especially with our local, national, and international mission efforts. Preston and his wife, Kami, have four children and a small hobby farm outside of Kingdom City.
Email: dom@heartofmissouriba.org
Dennis Peterson
Pastor of Education
Dennis has been a member of Richland since 2022 and one of our pastors since 2023. He serves and leads us well in filling in as needed with preaching and teaching, as well as providing biblically sound resources for our church leaders. A graduate of Covenant Theological Seminary, Dennis continues his studies through the For the Church Institute and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in apologetics and biblical studies. Before coming to our church, Dennis served as a bi-vocational pastor for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Tina, have two children and two grandchildren.
Email: dp.photo.images@gmail.com
Billy Hovey
Deacon of Children’s Ministry
Billy has been a member of Richland since 1997. Wearing many hats, Billy is a deacon, a long-time TeamKID volunteer (and previous director), a family group leader, and a personnel team member, among other things. A mechanic and inspector for many years, Billy currently works as a maintenance technician and inspector for Columbia Avionics and Aircraft Services. He and his wife, Terri, have two daughters.
Email: tbhovey@ktis.net
James Smiley
Deacon of Events & Grounds
James has been a member of Richland since 2000 and has been a deacon since 2007. Along with his roles as a deacon and a youth volunteer, James serves in other ministries in the church as he is needed. A man who stays extremely busy working various trucking, construction, maintenance, and other jobs, James is also a hobby farmer with goats and alpacas. He and his wife, Tammy, have one son.
Email: jameslsmiley@yahoo.com
Allen Tippett
Deacon of Facilities
Allen has been a member of Richland since 2019 and a deacon since 2021. A retired associate pastor, Allen has served the Lord faithfully for decades. After retiring and moving to Kingdom City in 2019 in order to be closer to family, Allen and his wife, Sharon, began serving and using the gifts God gave them in order to bless our church family. Along with being a deacon, Allen is a family group leader and is continually serving in various other ministries in our church. He and Sharon have two children and five grandchildren.
Email: smokeymo1@sbcglobal.net
Robbie Harding
Deacon of Indoor Hospitality
Robbie has been a member of Richland since 2018 and a deacon since July 2022. Volunteering his time helping with audio, video, music slides, and other technology-related ministries, Robbie is always willing to serve in any way he can. An AutoCAD drafter (Electrical Designer) at AZZ Inc. in Fulton, he has his Bachelor’s in General Studies with minors in Business and Computer Information Systems, to go along with his Associates in Computer Electronics. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Columbia and have one son.
Email: robbie.dale@gmail.com
Nate Bloss
Deacon of Outdoor Hospitality
Nate has been a member of Richland since 2018 and a deacon since July 2022. Along with leading our 4th-5th grade family group, Nate serves in other ministries as needed and occasionally preaches God’s Word on Sunday mornings. A farmer in Callaway County, Nate is also a traveling salesman. He and his wife, Katie, have five sons.
Email: bpherdsman@outlook.com
Robert Algiere
Deacon of Technology
Robert has been a member of Richland since 2019 and a deacon since July 2022. Often busy around the church building setting up and fixing audio-visual systems, Robert also serves in other ministries as needed on Sundays and Wednesdays (and throughout the week). He works at the City of Columbia Power Plant as a Technician Supervisor. Robert and his wife, Kayla, have three children.
Email: RobertAlgiere@gmail.com
Nate Morris
Deacon of Finance
Nate has been a member of Richland since 2020 and a deacon since July 2022. Along with being a family group leader, Nate serves in various other ministries as needed. A mortgage loan closer at Flat Branch Home Loans, Nate also enjoys following his favorite sports teams – the Kansas City Chiefs, the Golden State Warriors, and Mizzou. Nate and his wife, Ashley, have two children.
Email: nam1988rub@yahoo.com
Jacob Ellis
Deacon of Safety & Security
Jacob has been a member of Richland since 2017 and a deacon since March 2024. Along with being a youth group leader, he serves in various other ministries as needed. A state park ranger in Columbia, Jacob also enjoys fishing, hunting, playing sports, and hitting the weights. Jacob and his wife, Kasey, have one daughter.
Email: channelcat2018@gmail.com
Jerry Austin
Deacon
Jerry has been a member of Richland since 2001 and has served as a deacon since 2003. He also serves the church as a children’s ministry volunteer and does various projects around our church facilities. Born on a farm in 1942, Jerry has lived on a farm in Callaway County ever since. Although he retired from Farmers Mutual Insurance of Callaway County after being an Agent Director for nearly 36 years, Jerry is still a full-time farmer. He married his wife, Beverly, in 1968, and they have three children and four grandchildren.
Harlan Borman
Deacon
Harlan has been a member of Richland for decades. Along with his role as a deacon, Harlan serves in other ministries in the church, including building maintenance, handyman work, event planning, decorating, and outreach. A local farmer, Harlan is known as a hard worker and a faithful servant. He and his wife, Judy, have two children and four grandchildren.