Dr. Rick Efird is a graduate of Bryan College (BA), Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) and Phoenix Seminary (D.Min). He has served in pastoral ministry for over 40 years in two churches. After 30 years as the Lead Pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ, he resigned from that position to invest more time in equipping and encouraging younger pastors and ministry leaders. One of those younger pastors became Rick’s successor after having worked under his leadership for over ten years.

In his present role as the Director of Church Partnerships for Phoenix Seminary, Rick works to encourage, network and resource other pastors and ministry leaders. His conviction is that it takes healthy leadership to have healthy churches. Rick loves to shepherd God’s people through teaching biblical truth, providing wise counsel and equipping men and women to reach and disciple others.

Rick has exhibited a long history of leadership development beyond the local church. He has served as volunteer staff and committee member for Young Life in Dallas, TX and Phoenix, AZ. He helped in founding Western Seminary Phoenix in 1989 and served as the school’s interim president when the seminary became Phoenix Seminary in 1994. He has served for almost 20 years on the Phoenix Seminary Board of Directors, has taught as an adjunct faculty member and continues to mentor students. He has also ministered internationally by leading teams to build homes for orphans in Uganda and in training Christian leaders in Russia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rick and Emily have been married for 46 years and have two adult sons and one daughter-in-law.