Rick Elzinga is 56 years old and has pastored Southwest Hills for 24 years. He and his wife Diane have four children, ages 14 to 21. The Elzingas have a real heart for missions, and the whole family ministered together for five weeks during 2002 in Sodegaura, Japan. They have also been involved in missions to Mexico and England and are actively ministering to their Beaverton neighborhood.

Prior to pastoring, Rick taught elementary and middle school in Concord, California. He graduated from Berkeley, did extensive studies in Israel, and earned Master Degrees from New College Berkeley and Grace Theological Seminary.

Rick loves people, and a large part of his ministry is praying for people and equipping them with practical insights from the Bible. Two scriptures have particularly shaped his ministry:

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. -II Corinthians 4:5

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect [complete] in Christ. -Colossians 1:28