Pastor Tom Genovese and his wife, Deb
Tom Genovese and his wife Deb have been married for 50 years. They have three grown children, and eight grandchildren. During their years of marriage, they have lived in Connecticut, Maine and South Carolina.
Tom came to know Jesus Christ through a friend who refused to give up knocking on his apartment door every week. Joe, along with his wife Barbara, would have opportunity to encourage Deb while he would sit quietly in their bedroom until they left, sometimes hours later. One day Joe had the opportunity to speak with Tom, and though Tom did not put his trust in Christ at that time, he did some days after.
Pastor Tom has served as a pastor in four churches in Maine, and as an assistant pastor and high school Bible teacher in Connecticut. His preaching ministry began years before he entered a full-time ministry, taking opportunities in assisted living facilities and several nursing homes in Connecticut. Between full-time ministries, Tom would preach weekly at Shepherd’s Gate, a rescue ministry for women and children, and the Greenville Rescue Mission, both located in Greenville, South Carolina, and at an assisted living facility. He took every opportunity offered to preach in local churches as well.
Tom graduated from Howell Cheney Tech, a Regional/Vocational Technical School in Connecticut, where he took a 4 year Mechanical Drawing/Design Course. He has earned several certifications and commendations in his field for his work as a Machine Designer designing automated machinery. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from a local church seminary in New England, and has completed a course of study in Apologetics from Andersonville Baptist Seminary. In addition, Pastor Tom is a graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and has served as a Police Officer and Sheriff’s Deputy in Lubec, and Washington County, Maine. In his free time Pastor Tom enjoys photography, music, and woodworking.
Pastor Jeff Sicko and his wife, Judi
Jeff Sicko and his wife Judi have been married for 50 years this summer. They were married right here at Ridge Baptist Church. Judi grew up in this church with her parents Bryce and Rowena Reynolds. The Sicko’s have 5 sons—2 in heaven and three grown and married. They have 3 grand daughters and a 4th grand daughter is due in July. Jeff and Judi met at Bob Jones University, where they both earned their Bachelors’ Degrees in Elementary Education. Both have Masters’ Degrees in Education. Jeff earned his from St. Michael’s College in VT; Judi earned hers on line from Grand Canyon University.
Jeff and Judi married right out of college and have lived in Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, New York, and North Carolina, They retired in 2022 after 40 years of teaching. Jeff was ordained in 1985, in South Hope, ME. Jeff has had experience in ACE education, Administration, contained classrooms, coaching, and he was an adjunct professor in NC Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, NC. Judi has taught in the elementary classroom for 40 years.
Their desire to serve the Lord has given them a yearning for helping and teaching whenever they can. They may be retired from full-time teaching, but not from serving the Lord. Jeff’s prayer, since retiring, is to have a “purpose”. The Lord, along with Pastor Tom and Deb, have given them both a purpose. The Pastor and the church voted to offer Jeff the position of “Part-Time Assistant Pastor”.
Jeff is happy and excited to see what the Lord will do with this opportunity and privilege.