 Recently EQUIP received a very generous gift from Jackie Goad, the widow of Rick Goad. Jackie sent the gift in memory of her beloved Rick and designated it to help EQUIP train and resource Christian leaders serving in North Korea, one of the most dark, dangerous, difficult places on our planet.
As I held her check in my hand, a thousand memories flooded my mind about Rick, an extraordinary servant of our Lord and very special friend of EQUIP. He took partnership to the highest level as he prayed daily for EQUIP, gave generously and faithfully, and seized every opportunity to involve others with EQUIP. Several of our current Associate Trainers and most generous financial partners were introduced to EQUIP by Rick. When Rick, still quite a young man, was stricken with pancreatic cancer, he was actively involved in searching for a creative way for EQUIP to train house church leaders in North Korea. EQUIP’s president, John Hull, and I were talking with Rick about traveling with him to North Korea to explore training opportunities.
Rick is now in Heaven, but his dream for EQUIP to train church leaders in North Korea has become a reality, and his family is now a generous prayer and financial partner in this strategic endeavor.
It is my conviction that God desires for all Christ-followers to be generous givers. Rick was truly a Christ-like giver. Rick was involved with Goad International Ministries for over two decades. Acts of charity and compassion were foundational to his life and ministry. Jackie commented that Rick could never give enough as he realized that His Savior had given everything for him.
Not long after Rick was diagnosed with cancer, Rick began to write songs of worship. As he waited before the Lord and filled his mind with the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit inspired him to write some of the most meaningful and deeply moving lyrics I have ever heard. Even as his health faded and he became extremely weak, he would use what little strength he had to sit at the piano and write songs of worship and devotion. God saw fit to extend Rick’s life beyond the few months given him by the doctors, and he was able to complete the songs for a CD. He instructed Jackie to give the CD’s away. It was his dream that a million copies would be given away.
Rick’s CD, entitled My Miracle, is one of faith and hope. His songs are powerful expressions from one who fully trusted God even in the midst of great trails and testing.
As I listened to words written by a man in the valley of the shadow of death, I wept often as I realized the depth of his communion with God and the strength of his faith that enabled him to praise God in spite of very difficult circumstances.
Rick experienced the ultimate healing. He now sings in the Heavenly choir. Rick’s legacy is his family, the ministry he founded, the music he wrote, and the thousands and thousands of men and women he lovingly touched with his lifetime of generous giving.
Doug Carter
Senior Vice President, EQUIP
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