Dr. Ricky Temple, widely known to his congregation as Pastor Rick, is an American pastor, author, and leadership consultant who has served as senior pastor of Overcoming by Faith Ministries in Savannah, Georgia, since 1981. Over more than four decades, Temple has built a reputation as a straightforward, “down-home” communicator who reaches audiences well beyond his own church through radio, television, and a 2011 stint as lead pastor of one of Southern California’s most influential congregations.
[IMAGE: Pastor Ricky Temple preaching at Overcoming by Faith Ministries in Savannah, Georgia]
Ricky Temple at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ricky Temple |
| Born | Not publicly confirmed |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Diane Temple (married more than 43 years) |
| Children | Ricky Temple Jr. and Christina Temple |
| Education | |
| Undergraduate | Life Bible College, now Life Pacific University (Practical Theology, 1977) |
| Graduate | Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership, Life Pacific University; Doctor of Ministry, The King’s Seminary |
| Honorary degree | Honorary Doctor of Divinity, International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (1997) |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Senior Pastor |
| Church | Overcoming by Faith Ministries, Savannah, Georgia |
| Since | 1981 |
| Prior role | Lead Pastor, The Church on the Way, Van Nuys, California (June 2011 to December 2013) |
| Denomination | Foursquare Gospel, Word of Faith tradition |
| Website | rickytemple.com; overcomingbyfaith.org |
| Career | |
| Books | Surviving Marriage; Surviving the Single Journey; Learning to be Happy; Why Smart People Make Dumb Choices (co-written with Debra Smith Pegues) |
Early Life and Background
Detailed, publicly documented information about Ricky Temple’s birth date, hometown, and childhood is limited. His own ministry materials focus on his decades of pastoral work rather than personal biographical details from before his ministry career began, and Flicxa does not report unverified specifics that cannot be confirmed through official sources.
Education
Temple completed his undergraduate studies in Practical Theology at Life Bible College, now known as Life Pacific University, in 1977. He later returned to Life Pacific University to earn a Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership, and completed a Doctor of Ministry at The King’s Seminary, a graduate school associated with the Foursquare denomination and connected to The Church on the Way, the same Southern California congregation Temple would later lead on an interim basis. In 1997, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity for his ministry service.
Ministry Career: Four Decades at Overcoming by Faith
Ricky Temple became senior pastor of Overcoming by Faith Ministries in Savannah, Georgia, in 1981, a role he has now held for more than four decades. Under his leadership, the church grew into what its own materials describe as a vibrant, community-engaged congregation, extending its reach well beyond Savannah through radio and television broadcasts for almost 40 years.
In 2007, Temple led Overcoming by Faith to develop a combined digital and physical ministry platform, an early move for a mid-sized congregation at the time, which has since become central to how the church communicates with members and reaches new audiences online.
Leading The Church on the Way
From June 2011 to December 2013, Temple took on an additional role as lead pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, a congregation historically associated with prominent Foursquare pastor Jack Hayford. Temple managed both roles simultaneously, continuing to serve Overcoming by Faith in Savannah while leading the California congregation through what he has described as a coast-to-coast ministry season. He returned to focus fully on Overcoming by Faith at the end of that assignment in December 2013.
Rise to Prominence
Temple’s reach grew steadily through decades of radio and television broadcasting connected to Overcoming by Faith, and through his work as a certified member of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, the speaking and coaching network built around leadership author John C. Maxwell. That connection has extended Temple’s influence into leadership consulting and speaking engagements well beyond a traditional pastoral audience, including appearances addressing broader church and denominational conferences.
His interim leadership at The Church on the Way in California also placed him, even temporarily, at the head of one of the more historically significant congregations within the Foursquare movement, a notable achievement for a pastor whose primary ministry base remained a mid-sized Savannah church throughout his career.
Books and Publications
Temple has written several books focused on marriage, personal growth, and everyday decision-making. Notable titles include:
- Surviving Marriage
- Surviving the Single Journey
- Learning to be Happy
- Why Smart People Make Dumb Choices, co-written with financial author Debra Smith Pegues
He has described his broader life’s work in later years as becoming what he calls a “Lastologist,” someone focused on producing tools that help leaders, marriages, and families build habits that endure over the long term rather than just short-term wins.
Personal Life
Ricky Temple has been married to his wife, Diane Temple, for more than 43 years. The couple has raised two children, Ricky Temple Jr. and Christina Temple. Temple has described himself as a devoted Los Angeles Lakers fan, a passion he shares with his wife and children, alongside a personal commitment to staying physically active in his community.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Temple ministers within the Foursquare Gospel tradition, a Pentecostal denomination founded by Aimee Semple McPherson that emphasizes salvation, Spirit baptism, divine healing, and the second coming of Christ. His preaching style leans on straightforward, accessible communication, taking what he calls complex subjects and making them easy for ordinary congregants to understand and apply.
Temple has described his approach to ministry as rooted in a “down-home” style rather than academic or highly formal preaching, paired with a strong personal commitment to developing leaders, strengthening marriages, and supporting families through practical, everyday teaching rather than abstract theology.
Influence and Legacy
Temple’s more than four decades leading a single congregation in Savannah, combined with his broadcast reach and his brief but significant tenure at The Church on the Way, have given him an influence that extends beyond a typical mid-sized church pastor. His work through the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team has connected his ministry directly to a national network of leadership development, positioning him as both a pastor and a broader leadership voice.
His long tenure at Overcoming by Faith Ministries, now spanning more than four decades in the same pulpit, also reflects a stability increasingly uncommon among American pastors of large or mid-sized congregations, many of whom transition to new roles far more frequently.
Criticism and Controversies
Ricky Temple has not been the subject of any significant, well-documented public controversy. His ministry career, spanning more than four decades at Overcoming by Faith and an additional interim role at The Church on the Way, has proceeded through publicly announced, orderly transitions rather than any scandal or forced departure. No allegations of financial, moral, or doctrinal misconduct appear in credible reporting connected to Temple’s ministry.
Net Worth
No independently verified net worth figure exists for Ricky Temple. Neither Overcoming by Faith Ministries nor Temple’s personal ministry materials disclose salary or personal financial details publicly, and Flicxa does not present a speculative figure as fact given the absence of any verified disclosure.
Interesting Facts About Ricky Temple
- He has led the same Savannah, Georgia congregation, Overcoming by Faith Ministries, since 1981, more than four decades in a single pulpit
- He simultaneously pastored churches on opposite coasts from 2011 to 2013, leading The Church on the Way in California while continuing to serve his Savannah congregation
- He calls his long-term life goal becoming a “Lastologist,” someone focused on helping leaders and families build habits that last
- He is a certified member of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, connecting his ministry to a national leadership development network
- He co-authored a book, Why Smart People Make Dumb Choices, with financial author and speaker Debra Smith Pegues
Timeline of Key Events
- 1977: Completes undergraduate studies in Practical Theology at Life Bible College
- 1981: Becomes senior pastor of Overcoming by Faith Ministries in Savannah, Georgia
- 1997: Receives an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
- 2007: Leads Overcoming by Faith to launch a combined digital and physical ministry platform
- June 2011: Becomes lead pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, while continuing to serve in Savannah
- December 2013: Concludes his tenure at The Church on the Way and returns focus fully to Overcoming by Faith
- 2023: Receives an honorary Doctor of Letters from Life Pacific University
- May 2024: Completes an earned doctoral degree
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ricky Temple?
Ricky Temple is an American pastor, author, and leadership consultant who has served as senior pastor of Overcoming by Faith Ministries in Savannah, Georgia, since 1981.
Where was Ricky Temple born?
Ricky Temple’s birthplace has not been publicly confirmed through any official ministry source. His publicly available biography focuses on his ministry career rather than early personal history.
Did Ricky Temple have a family?
Yes. Ricky Temple has been married to his wife, Diane Temple, for more than 43 years, and the couple has two children, Ricky Temple Jr. and Christina Temple.
What religion is Pastor Rick?
Pastor Ricky Temple ministers within the Foursquare Gospel denomination, a Pentecostal tradition emphasizing salvation, Spirit baptism, divine healing, and the return of Christ.
How old is Ricky Temple?
Ricky Temple’s exact age has not been publicly confirmed. Given that he completed his undergraduate degree in 1977 and became a senior pastor in 1981, he is understood to be in his late sixties to early seventies as of 2026, though no specific confirmed age is publicly available.
What church does Ricky Temple lead?
Temple leads Overcoming by Faith Ministries in Savannah, Georgia, where he has served as senior pastor since 1981.
Can I watch Pastor Ricky Temple’s sermons online?
Yes. Temple’s sermons are available through Overcoming by Faith Ministries’ website and his personal ministry site, rickytemple.com, which also hosts his devotionals and leadership content.
A Note on Related Search Terms
The question “Where is Pastor Chris originally from?” does not refer to Ricky Temple. It appears to be a mismatched search referring to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the Nigerian televangelist and founder of Christ Embassy, a different public figure entirely. That question would work better as part of a dedicated biography on Pastor Chris Oyakhilome rather than a section here.
Final Word
Ricky Temple has spent more than four decades in the same Savannah pulpit, a rare kind of stability in American pastoral ministry, while still finding time to lead a congregation on the opposite coast and build a national leadership platform on the side. His story is less about a single dramatic breakthrough and more about what four decades of consistent, “down-home” faithfulness can build when nobody’s watching for the headline.
Read Also
No other biography in our archive shares a close enough ministry, denominational, or professional connection with Ricky Temple to recommend here.
