Staff info
A little about Rick
James Eric Sewell, better known as "Rick," was born in 1965. As the son of a minister, church and faith were foundational aspects of his early development. In 1975, Rick made his first independent step of faith by accepting Jesus into his heart.
After graduating high school in 1983, Rick entered the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Surry Community College and graduated in 1985. However, he soon discovered that the Lord had different plans for his life. "I learned that there can be quite a difference between expecting the Lord to bless me in what I wanted to do, and in learning the blessings of doing what the Lord wanted me to do."
In February of 1992, after experiencing an inner stirring that would not go away, Rick announced his calling into Christian ministry to his home church. His church granted him a "Certificate of License" in July of that same year. The following spring, Rick was called to pastor the Brown Mountain Baptist Church, where his home church participated in his Ordination to Gospel Ministry in July 1993.
Rick pursued his education in the Seminary Extension program offered through the Southern Baptist Convention from 1992 to 2003. In the fall of 2004, he entered the Master of Divinity program at Gardner-Webb University, graduating with the M.Div degree in 2007.
Rick has held four pastoral leadership positions, three interim roles, and has worked in both church and associational settings. In the mid-1990s, he became involved in Christian internet ministry for the first time, organizing online Bible studies and serving on the staff of an "Ask the Pastor" site. This experience, combined with the rise of social media, ultimately led to the formation of this site.
Currently, Rick and his wife, Donna, reside in central Virginia, where they enjoy the beautiful countryside while serving as pastor of a rural church. They have three adult children, an adorable grandson, and a totally spoiled housedog. When possible, Rick enjoys riding motorcycles, cultivating a vegetable garden, and working with firewood. Amidst these activities, he also takes time to provide mental health counseling and answer a few questions.
Drew Sewell
Contributing Voice
There will be times when questions extend beyond the realm of theology. Drew Sewell is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who has also founded his own practice, Evexia, with a mission to provide quality professional counseling at an affordable price, regardless of income or insurance. He brings to your questions the depth of his experience in the fields of psychology and mental health counseling, in partnership with his faith, especially as it relates to Christian ministry.
And, yes, Drew is Rick's son.
"My name is James Andrew Sewell, but I go by 'Drew.' I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina. I love providing safe and compassionate counseling to those in need, which is essential in the context of pastoral leadership.
My focus in counseling and therapy is on how relationships shape people, particularly through early life attachments. I provide a space to process the trauma that often occurs in important relationships (physical and emotional) that wound people for a long time after. To help clients, I teach boundaries and communication, and I join them in their grief. I have also worked with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, children, and couples.
I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina. I have a wife and son, and two cats.