My name is Rick Hart and Family and Friends at HOTS: My wife, Vickie, and I have been fellowshipping at Heart of the Shepherd since its formation in the fall of 2002. We moved to Howell from Redford Township five years earlier and had never “settled in” with a church family until God led us to HOTS. We are very excited and humbled to be an active part of the family of God here. Vickie and I have four grown children and five grandchildren (so far).

Vickie works as a cashier / receptionist (girl Friday) for Cummins Bridgeway, a retail distributor for Cummins, Inc., with 17 locations and headquartered in New Hudson, MI. I am a Financial Associate with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and part of a group practice with an office in downtown Walled Lake.

I have been a life-long Lutheran and attended Lutheran schools through grade 12. I graduated in 1973 from Lutheran High School West in Detroit. Vickie is a graduate of Detroit Western High School (she won’t let me tell you what year.)

I enjoy leading bible studies and facilitating group discussions on a variety of topics. I have a particular passion for communicating the Truth of the Gospel in meaningful ways to a post-modern pluralistic society and culture that is confused about the existence of truth as a category (much like Pontius Pilate). I maintain a “blog” on this topic called “G.I.S.T.” (Give It Some Thought) at http://www.lutheransonline.com/home/.

Because of some struggles with my own faith that I faced in my post-high school years, I especially enjoy talking with high school and college students whose faith is being attacked by teachers and professors, not to mention peers, on an every day basis. 1 Peter 3:15 has become my motto: “…Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks the reason for the hope that is in you, but do so with gentleness and respect...” For this reason I believe it is imperative to not only know “what” you believe, but “why” you believe, as well.

Click for the names of the families on this ministry team.