MIDLAND The Rev. Richard Floyd “Dick” Spencer was a running back at Midland High School who took a geology degree at Texas Tech in 1957 and worked for major oil companies till starting his own company, which has enabled him to pursue a second career in the ministry.
Spencer founded Midland Christian Fellowship, now Elevate Church, and preached there for seven years, was pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, now Presence Church, for 25 years and 14 years ago became pastor of Redeemer Christian Fellowship at 2906 Franklin Ave., where 50 to 200 people worship at 10 a.m. Sunday.
“My mission is to lead people to the Lord and make disciples,” he said. “Jesus came to give us life and give it more abundantly. I challenge people to understand that those who receive God’s forgiveness become kings of life.
“As ambassadors for Christ, we have a royal mandate to win souls and make disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit and covered by the blood of the Lamb.”
Spencer worked for Stanolind Oil Co., Pan American Petroleum and AMOCO in Houston, Tulsa and Midland before starting Regal Oil & Gas Exploration in 1992. He is a former Air Force officer who flies his own plane. He and his wife Sharon have two sons, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Asked how he got interested in the ministry, in which he has always worked free of charge, Spencer said, “I got saved at a men’s retreat in Palestine, Texas, in 1967.
“The testimony of four men blew me away. I’ve had the pleasure of ministering all over the world from Russian to China, the Czech Republic, Armenia, Singapore, the Philippines and England. I got a heart transplant in 1992 after the doctors gave me two days to live.”
Spencer helped open the half century-old Teen Challenge Adult Center of the Permian Basin south of Midland, where Executive Director David Day said he “is a mighty man of God who has been an inspiration to a lot of people.
“Dick is a great mentor who has taught me many things like to be steadfast and humble and know that the Lord will always be stretching us but at the same time give us the tools we need to accomplish the things he sets out for us to do,” Day said. “He was a founder in 1971, but before that he had a coffee house where he ministered to young men and women. He is one of our best supporters both in prayer and in finance.”
Day said Spencer “is an anointed preacher who always brings honor and glory to the Father.
“He is an astute man of the Word and a personable man who deals with people on the bases of their individual needs,” he said. “He is able to reach out to others in their times of need.”
