Slideshow image

The San Felipe Baptist Association is honored to celebrate Pastor Rickesh Patel as this week’s Pastor of the Week. Pastor Rickesh is a beautiful example of faithful devotion to Christ, a deep love for God’s Word, and a genuine shepherd’s heart for God’s people.

Pastor Rickesh is currently completing his Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, building on a strong academic foundation that includes two master’s degrees from seminary and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. (Yes—he’s an Aggie! Whoop!) His passion for learning flows from a sincere desire to serve the Church well and faithfully proclaim the Gospel.

This season marks a significant milestone in Pastor Rickesh’s ministry, as serving as the Lead Pastor of West End Baptist Church is his first role in senior leadership. He is deeply loved by his church family, who are joyfully walking alongside him as he grows in leadership, wisdom, and devotion to this sweet congregation. His calm, gentle demeanor is encouraging and contagious, bringing peace and confidence to those around him. He also has a wonderful sense of humor—if he’s not laughing, he’s almost certainly smiling.

Pastor Rickesh has served faithfully in a variety of ministry contexts, including student ministry at The Servant House in Lewisville, Texas, and nearly a decade at Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, where he led discipleship groups for college and young adults. His heart for missions is evident through his involvement in evangelism and global missions, including a July 2025 trip to Madagascar with Southwestern Seminary.

Born and raised in Jasper, Texas, Pastor Rickesh is often described as a biblical scholar, anointed teacher, humble servant, and mission-minded leader. He is one of the kindest, most gentle, and loving people you will ever meet—generous with his time and eager to learn in every situation.

Pastor Rickesh truly has a pastor’s heart, serving the Lord with gladness and loving people well. We celebrate his calling, his leadership, and the great work God is doing through him at West End Baptist Church. Congratulations, Pastor Rickesh!