Rev. Cody grew up in Tomball, Texas, attending and graduating Tomball Lutheran School and then on to graduate from Tomball High School (‘88). After graduation, he continued his education at Concordia Lutheran College, Austin, Texas, (now Concordia University-Texas), earning a B.S. in Behavioral Sciences (‘92). Upon graduation from college, he attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, earning his Master of Divinity (M.Div. ‘96).
While at Concordia, Austin, he met and married the love of his life, Michelle (Farley), who also attended Concordia. Michelle is a native of Texas and started her life in Amarillo, TX, Hereford, TX, and then on to Rockwall, TX, where she graduated high school (‘89).
Rick and Michelle are blessed with two sons, Ryan (30) born in Austin, TX, and Cameron (23) born in Texarkana, TX. Ryan & Hannah (Ryan’s wife) live and work in Joplin, MO. Ryan is in social work and Hannah works for her family’s company. Rick and Michelle are proud grandparents to grandsons, Grayson and Sterling, both born to Ryan and Hannah. Cameron & Kayla (Cameron’s wife) live in Pierce City, MO. Cameron currently works for the Monett School District in Monett, MO, and Kayla works and coaches in the Pierce City, MO, school district.
Pastor Cody has been privileged to serve four previous congregations during the course of his 26-year ministry. His first call out of seminary was to First Lutheran Church, Texarkana, Texas, (1996-2001) where he served as Associate Pastor for 1-year. He was then called as the Senior Pastor of First Lutheran and served in that position for the next 4-years. On July 22, 2001, he was called to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Monett, MO, where he served for 15- years. Pastor Cody then served Immanuel, Rader, MO, right at about 2-years. His latest call was to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, TX, serving for the last 3.5 years (2018-2022). He was installed at St. Peter Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, MO, on April 3, 2022, and is looking forward to the great things God will do at St. Peter and in the community in the years to come.
During Pastor Cody’s years of service, he has served several vacancies: Grace Lutheran, Aurora, MO; Trinity Lutheran, Freistatt, MO (twice); Immanuel Lutheran, Rader, MO, (until they issued a call) and Our Savior Lutheran, Buffalo, MO.
Pastor Cody has also served the church at large as a short-term LCMS missionary to Cambodia, Hong-Kong, Jiangmen, China; Shenzhen, China, and Macau, in 2013. He served as a (2004 & 2019) Delegate to the Synodical Convention in St. Louis, MO, and Tampa, FL, respectively.
He has served the Missouri District in several capacities as Chairman of the following boards: Board for Mission Services; Board for Congregational Services; North Korean Mission Task Force; and the Communications and Technology Boards. He has served on the Missouri District on three different occasions. He was also elected at convention as Circuit Visitor.
Pastor Cody is an avid hunter, gun enthusiast, and golfer. He and Michelle and their sons & family, love to hike and kayak. Estes Park, Colorado, is their families favorite vacation destination. Pastor and Michelle love spending time with their family, grandson Grayson and new grandson Sterling, who was born in May 2022.
May God’s guiding hand be upon us all and may all we do bring glory to Him!
