We are pleased to welcome Rev. Richard L. Leggett as the new Executive Pastor at Faith Methodist Church effective May 1. Rev. Leggett brings more than thirty years of pastoral experience and a deep heart for serving the Lord and sharing the Gospel.
Richard’s journey of faith began in a meaningful way during his youth. He grew up in a non-Christian home, but at the age of twelve, a friend named Waylon invited him to church and to Youth Camp. It was there that Richard felt his heart set on fire for the Lord. By the age of fifteen, he sensed a call to ordained ministry. At sixteen, he preached his first sermon, and by nineteen, he was pastoring his first church.
Rev. Leggett served for twenty-one years in the Rio Grande Conference, where, in addition to leading a full-time church, he served as Conference Benefits Officer and President of the Board of Pensions. During this time, the conference faced a significant challenge—a six-million-dollar deficit in pre-1981 pension responsibilities. Through faithful work and collaboration, fourteen years later, the debt had been resolved, and the fund held an eight-million-dollar surplus. As Richard often says, “God is good!”
He also played an important role in the unification of the Rio Grande Conference and the Southwest Texas Conference, which together formed the Rio Texas Conference. Through these experiences, Richard developed a deep appreciation for collaborative teamwork and the importance of bringing clergy, staff, and lay leaders together in shared mission.
Rev. Leggett is deeply committed to the Word of God and to reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ. He is passionate about evangelism and about helping others grow as disciples of Christ.
Richard and his wife, Elsa, have been married for thirty-six years and have three adult children: Joseph, Daniel, and Annamarie. Interestingly, Elsa’s great-grandfather was a Methodist circuit rider, and Richard’s first pastoral appointment was at a church that Elsa’s great-grandfather started in 1915. Elsa holds a PhD in counseling, is a full professor, and currently serves as President of the American Counseling Association. Richard often shares that Elsa is his best friend.
Rev. Leggett holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston and a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Seminary.
When he’s not serving in ministry, Richard enjoys playing golf—something he jokingly calls “golf evangelism,” as he loves inviting people to church through time spent on the course. He also enjoys working in the yard, tackling projects around the house, and relaxing with a good book.
Rev. Leggett is excited to join the Faith Methodist Church family and looks forward to serving alongside the wonderful people of this congregation.
