Meet Rick Zomer, Your Faith Formation Consultant

What is a Thrive Ministry Consultant?

Ministry Consultants bring together a wide array of experiences and expertise that allow them to serve congregations with wisdom and compassion. They are practitioners, pastors, and seasoned ministry leaders who are eager to develop tools or serve as resources for the wellbeing of your congregation.

In what areas of ministry do you encourage and equip congregations? 

I work with individual leaders, churches and classes in their faith formation work for all ages and life stages. This can happen through individual conversations about a specific question, helping point a church leader to a resource in response to an inquiry or expressed need or providing a training or workshop on a specific topic. I also work with other members of Thrive to lead the Christian Parenting and Caregiver Initiative, a grant supported project that is exploring ways to come alongside congregations, parents and caregivers as they support the faith formation of children, youth and young adults in their context. 

How did you come into your role? 

I was born in Southern ON and raised in the Christian Reformed Church but wouldn’t have imagined myself in this role when I graduated from Calvin College in the early 90s. I spent over two decades working in Christian higher education in a variety of roles while also completing a couple of graduate degrees and envisioned remaining in that environment for the foreseeable future. It was the voice of mentors in my life as well as open and closed doors that helped me discern that God was leading me in a new direction. Prior to beginning this role with the denomination, I spent the past several years working for a parachurch ministry that supported churches in their youth ministry efforts. This experience allowed me to focus on the faith formation in young people and the part older adults are called to play in that process. I was drawn to this role because it broadens my focus as it allows me to connect with children, youth, young adults and older individuals. 

What brings you the most joy as you journey alongside churches and ministry leaders? 

The thing that brings me the most joy or hope is when I get to collaborate with churches and ministry leaders who are focused on a communal approach to faith formation. It’s always a blessing to work with churches that view this process as a group project involving youth and young adults as well as older members of the congregation. I’m passionate about helping congregations consider what this could look like in their context and privileged to provide support and encouragement to churches who are ready to begin or continue this work. 

How can congregations connect with you?

Visit the Thrive website at crcna.org/thrive/consultants