Pastor's Page

Hello, I am Pastor Rick Bender, pastor of Zion United Church of Christ in Elberfeld, IN.

I want to thank you for visiting our website and taking the time to learn about our wonderful church. If you are new to the Elberfeld area, looking for a new church, or just curious about Christianity and want to learn more about God and the teachings of Jesus Christ, I would like to invite you to look around this website and attend our services so that you can see first hand what Zion UCC has to offer. If you are exploring Christianity, perhaps for the first time, or just curious as to the road this pastor took that led me to where I am today, I would invite you to read my personal testimony. How I became a Christian.

If you have further questions, please either send me a message via the confidential form on the “Contact Us” page or give me a call. I would be glad to answer your questions.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Rick Bender

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Education and Certifications

Attended and graduated St. Louis Country Day- St. Louis, 1972

B.A./Psychology, St. Lawrence University- Canton, NY, 1976

Master of Divinity, Covenant Theological Seminary- St. Louis, 1984

Doctor of Ministry, Knox Theological Seminary- Ft. Lauderdale, 1997

Ordination by Presbyterian Church in America- Tulsa, OK, 1985

Pastoral Counseling- Rosemead, CA, 1989
Evangelism Explosion- Ft. Lauderdale FL, 1990

Billy Graham School of Evangelism- Denver, CO, 2001

Hobbies

Tennis, golf, skiing, reading, playing the guitar and watching the St. Louis Cardinals

Zion United Church of Christ Elberfeld, Indiana

Anchoring Our Faith In God