Rick Wofford along with his wife, the former Juanita Merritt, serves as Praise Cathedral’s Evangelism & Outreach pastor. Rick has spent many years in preparation for his duties. Since receiving Christ as a young teen, Rick has served in various capacities in the Pentecostal Holiness Church as a deacon, Sunday School teacher & Superintendent, Royal Ranger Commander at the local, district & conference levels, and as the Children’s Pastor at Landrum Pentecostal Holiness Church. In each position his emphasis has been the evangelism of the lost. Rick says that the greatest spiritual blessing the Lord has given him, after salvation, was to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost on Easter Sunday night April 12, 1992.

Born in Spartanburg, SC, Rick was in church from his earliest memories. After graduation from Clemson University in 1979 with a degree in Textile Technology he worked in various industries before answering the call as a minister in 1993. Being ordained he ministered at each secular job he occupied as a counselor and prayer partner to the employees and management. Rick completed his Masters of Science in Management from Southern Wesleyan University in 2006. An increased desire to win the lost has resulted in Rick giving up his bi-vocational duties to become a full-time minister.

A lifelong friendship developed because Juanita’s father, Rev. S.A. Merritt, served as Rick’s pastor at Landrum PHC.  This friendship turned to romance in their late teens and they were married on July 7, 1979. This marriage has grown stronger over the past 29 years due to their commitment to each other, and more importantly, to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Having lost both his parents in 1978 to a drunk driver, Rick credits the love and guidance of his in-laws, Rev. S.A. and Nettie Merritt, as a major factor in his love for the Lord. Rick & Juanita have been blessed with 2 sons, Rich and Ryan.  Rich and his family live in Arizona, while Ryan is serving in the United States Marines.