Myron and Sharon Ricketts came to Universal City United Methodist Church in June 2006. 

Myron has served Jesus Christ as an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church since 1971.  He spent 22 years as a chaplain – 20 years in the US Army and 2 years at the Methodist Healthcare System, San Antonio, where he established a pastoral counseling center.  Previous appointments have been in the Austin District, the McAllen District, the Kerrville District and now in the San Antonio District.

Myron and Sharon have been married since 1969 and have one son, Darron, who lives in Florida. 

Myron holds a Master of Theology degree with an emphasis on pastoral care from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, Dallas, TX, after graduating from the University of Houston in 1969 with a B.S. degree in Psychology.  He and Sharon both earned a Master of Arts degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from Phillips Graduate Institute, Hollywood, CA.  Both Sharon and Myron are Texas Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and Myron is an Approved Supervisor for Licensed Professional Counselors and LMFT’s.  Myron is a Supervisory Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and both belong to the Christian Counselors of Texas Association.

Myron and Sharon are both glad to be called to and appointed to serve the people of the Universal City area as we work together to “CATCH THE SPIRIT and SPREAD THE JOY” of Jesus.  His sermons always amplify Scripture and encourage a deeper relationship with God and others on the journey to greater friendship with the Lord.

Phillip entered the United States Air Force in 1988, with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.  After attending flight training he was assigned to Offutt AFB where he flew reconnaissance aircraft for over 6 years.  Phillip then spent four years as a flight instructor before being assigned to HQ 19 Air Force, Randolph AFB as an action officer/NAF Flight Examiner.  While at Randolph AFB, he spent three years as a member of the AIR FORCE ONE Advance Team traveling in support of Presidents Clinton and Bush.  Probably Phillip’s most noteworthy trip with AIR FORCE ONE was with President Bush in Sarasota, FL, on September 11, 2001.

Even with all the successes in his military career, Phillip felt an emptiness in his life.  He says, “After a period of soul searching and trying to hear God’s call for my life, I finally knew that God was calling me to go out as an ambassador of His Kingdom and help others learn of God’s love and the gift that Jesus Christ offers to all.”  In 2004, he left the USAF after 16 years and entered the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX where he earned his Master of Divinity degree.  During his years in seminary, Phillip served as a Local Student Pastor at Resurrection UMC in Adkins, TX.  Upon graduation, he was appointed as the Associate Pastor of Universal City UMC.

Phillip has been referred to by Tom Bledsoe, the Director of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, as one of today’s “young emerging evangelists.”  He is the President /Founder of the Horizon to Horizon Evangelistic Association which is a ministry designed to reach today’s society with the message of the Gospel using contemporary music and methods.

As a minister, Phillip enjoys preaching the Gospel in a new and fresh way.  He believes that Christianity should be fun and worship a joyful and exciting experience.  He also volunteers as a member of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team as a Chaplain and has deployed with them into the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  He has been involved with Operation Christmas Child, a ministry sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, and continues to be active helping local churches reach out to hurting children throughout the world.  He enjoys working with youth and has been asked to speak at various youth events.

Phillip is married to Robin H. Hefner, a school teacher working on a Master’s Degree in School Psychology.  They have four daughters:  Lesa (17), Victoria (15), Kelsie (14), and Kori (8). 

Phillip’s heart is expressed in this statement:  “I think every Christian has a duty to spread the Word of Jesus Christ and to do it in a way that shows God’s love as well as showing the world that having Jesus Christ in your life is truly the greatest gift of all.”