Rick Odell became the Associate Director of Church Relations at Oklahoma Christian University in January of 2023 after 32 years in Youth Ministry. Rick’s role at OC is to work primarily with youth ministers and youth groups, managing the “Churches Looking For Ministers” job list, consulting churches and youth ministries, directing Summer Singers and New Reign, co-directing OC’s Vision Ministry Workshop event, advising OC students who are considering ministry as a career and any number of other random projects.
He served in youth ministry at churches in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado, Del City, Oklahoma and Austin, Texas. He's been honored to serve on the board of the National Conference on Youth Ministries, serving as President for one year; received the Wally Wilkerson Legacy Award in 2020. He has also mentored many younger youth ministers, consulted churches on a voluntary and professional basis.
Concurrent with his time in Austin, he also worked as an Account Executive and Account Supervisor with two advertising agencies, and previously worked in Dallas, Texas as an Account Executive with an advertising agency, was in radio sales and as an Executive Assistant for a catalog production company.
Rick is a 1980 graduate of Midwest City High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and a 1984 graduate of Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications/radio & television. He has also made progress towards a Masters of Arts degree in Youth Ministry from Lubbock Christian University.
Rick and his wife, Kristi (married since 1988), are the parents of two children: Jake (28, married to Abby Giddens and father to Rick and Kristi’s grandson, Marty) and Molly (23). Rick and his entire family are alumni of Oklahoma Christian College/University.
Youth Ministry and missions are Rick’s passions. He has led dozens of international short term trips to Mexico, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Germany and Bulgaria as well as numerous domestic trips to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, Powell, Wyoming, Colby, Kansas, Paonia, Colorado, Denver, Colorado, Detroit, Michigan, Washington, DC, and various tornado disaster relief efforts. There have been literally hundreds of participants in these missions, who would likely tell you that their lives will never be the same after seeing and experiencing God at work in these places.
Life has been an incredibly humbling journey, and Rick is a result of so many peers and mentors that have poured into him through his ministry. Don't let anyone fool you. Working for the church is a huge challenge... you'll see the good, the bad and the ugly side of people. But always remember, it's worth it. God loves ALL of those you'll come in contact with. Never give up on anyone. God has never (and never will) give up on you.
