 Rio
West Community Church is served in a full-time capacity by Pastor
Don Schlichte. Don was born November 28th, 1956, in Adrian, Minnesota,
and he grew up in the small town of Wilmont, Minnesota. Upon graduating
from high school, he attended Worthington Community College and
obtained an Associate of Arts degree from WCC. He married Patricia
Lewis in 1976, and they have raised six children. Don and Trish
also have one grandchild.
Don was recognized as Pastor of Grace Church in Lubbock, Texas,
in 1980. In 1986 he and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico
to pastor the Great Commission church there. In 1988, eight families
started Rio West Community Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Don
was its founding pastor, and he continues today as Rio West’s
Senior Pastor. Don has served his churches over the years as a
bi-vocational pastor, working outside the ministry as a small
business entrepreneur and roofing contractor. Since 1998, Don
has served Rio West full-time.
Pastor Don has served as a volunteer coach for many of his children’s
soccer and basketball teams. He has also been employed as a coach
by both the Rio Rancho and Albuquerque school districts. He has
served on the curriculum committee of the newly-formed Rio Rancho
School District, and has served as lead facilitator of a local
ministers’ prayer group. He served a short stint as a Rio
Rancho police chaplain. In February 2001 he was elected to the
Rio Rancho Board of Education.
Don’s wife Trish is a full-time homemaker, a professional
seamstress, and a vital helper to Rio West’s women’s
ministry.
|
|
