"God is light; In Him there is no darkness..."
1 John 1:5
As believers in Christ and through the Holy Spirit, we are committed to joyfully share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all people through evangelism, outreach, and missions; to equip believers for ministries in our church, our community, and throughout the world; and to provide opportinities for worship, Bible study, discipleship, stewardship, service and fellowship.
Meet Pastor Rick Shaw
and his wife Martha Shaw
Richard W. “Rick” Shaw, a native New Mexican, graduate of Baylor University (BS, BA), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MM), Wayland Baptist University (MBA), and Asbury Theological Seminary (PhD), accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of seven, and surrendered to the Gospel ministry at nine.
Rick met his wonderful wife, Martha, a native of New Jersey, while at Baylor, and they married in 1983. Rick and Martha were both ordained at Gloucester Point Baptist Church, Virginia—Rick to the pastoral ministry and Martha to the diaconate. Rick and Martha surrendered to global mission service in 1995, and became some of the early missionary appointees serving in Albania, Macedonia, and Kosova as church-planters, strategists, Bible translators, and evangelists among Muslim peoples, for fourteen years. Rick has also done extensive mission work in Africa, the Middle East, South America, Asia, and Central America, as well as throughout the US. Rick is a pastor & teacher, having taught at universities, seminaries, high schools, & elementary schools.
Rick & Martha have four biological children (James, Faith, Ben, & Grace), nine grandchildren, and two adopted children, Robert & Scarlett.
Rick and Martha are both avid readers, cooks and bakers. Martha loves video games, Rick is a triathlete, thriving on camping, hunting, coaching baseball & soccer, music, and linguistics.
Rick has served as Senior Pastor of South Venice Baptist Church since September 2020.