Pastor Rick Aldridge

Pastor Rick Aldridge came to Eastern North Carolina from Southern Ohio as a Marine in 1980.  He married Tammie in 1981. Their only daughter Michelle was born in 1983. 

God began to deal with the young Marine's heart while he was deployed to the Philippine Islands with VMAQ-2 in December 1982.  After a night "on the town" for Christmas Eve, Holy Ghost conviction did its work on Christmas day. The day after Christmas was a Sunday.  Sergeant Aldridge went to the base chapel where he quietly bowed his head at the pew and asked God to save him and give him victory over alcohol and sin in his life.  God did! 

Tammie began attending Community Baptist Church in Newport while he was deployed.  The Aldridge family joined Community Baptist in 1983 and spent the next 19 years happily serving the Lord there. 

When Pastor Aldridge answered the call to preach, He began to prepare for the ministry through correspondence courses. He earned a Masters degree in Biblical Studies from Anderson Baptist Seminary.  Community Baptist licensed him to preach in September 1996, and hosted his ordination in 1998.  He  served there as Associate Pastor from 1998 until 2001, then  pastored for over four years.  After leaving, the Aldridges united in diligent prayer asking God to show Himself "Mighty in May," 2007.  During the month, their attention was drawn to the Highway 24 corridor.  Initially, the door seemed to close, but on the first Sunday evening of June the Aldridges took the long way home after services.  After driving through Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park, they looked across Highway 24 and saw the empty storefront at 2841.  A key was available at the convenience mart so they went inside, looked around, and prayed. There was a peace that "this is it."  A few phone calls to check on using the store for a church started the ball rolling. Once things started to happen, the Lord moved so quickly that it was hard to stay out of the way. 

Pastor Ron Howland and Foundation Baptist Church of Morehead City agreed to be the sending church, and incredibly, the first service was held at Carteret Baptist Church on July 1st, 2007, less than 30 days after seeing the building.  May God enable glory to be brought to His name as He completes what He has begun!