Together we can Grow

We are collecting canned canned black beans to stock the shelves at ACTS.

• Leave your donation in the collection box in the Fellowship Hall.

Mike Ricks joined Bethabara as our pastor in October, 2024. Mike has served families in Georgia for over 30 years, beginning as a part-time youth minister at a local church.  He has served nearly all of those years in Oconee County. He was an associate pastor and student pastor at Briarwood Baptist Church in Watkinsville for 26 years and a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, serving in the Next Gen ministry, for five years. In his role with the GBMB, Mike worked with churches across the state to help them grow their ministries to children, students, and families. 

In addition to serving at Bethabara, Mike is the Executive Director at Bethel Haven, a non-profit Christian counseling center in Watkinsville. In his role there, he leads the staff as they deliver hope, help and healing to individuals and families locally and across the state. Mike also raises funds to keep the mission of Bethel Haven move forward.
​
Mike received his Masters of Divinity in Biblical Studies from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has a double major in Accounting and Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia. 

Mike and Betsy Ricks have been married for 22 years and have 2 boys. Mac is a student at the University of Georgia and Jack is a senior at Oconee County High School.