About

Why Ozamiz City, Philippines

Rick and Beth Hicks have been married for 37 years and share a heart for missions, ministry, and family. They have two adult children and one granddaughter. For a decade, they faithfully served their local church—Celebration Community Church in Celebration, Florida—where they grew in their faith and developed a deep burden for global missions through multiple short-term mission trips.

Beth first visited the Philippines over 25 years ago, joining a team of eleven for what she thought would be a one-time trip. That visit changed her life forever. The depth of poverty and the number of abandoned children she encountered were unlike anything she had ever seen. But it was one boy—and one pair of shoes—that God used to transform her heart.

Each team member was instructed to bring a pair of work boots. Beth had packed a unisex pair she never ended up using. One morning, she noticed a young man with unusually large feet and asked if he might try them. The next day, she offered him the boots. With tears in his eyes, he lifted his feet to show the holes in his shoes and said he had been praying for new shoes for two years. That simple act of obedience sparked something deeper—and became the beginning of an annual shoe drive for Happy Church in Ozamiz City.

Beth returned every year for the next 18 years, building relationships and becoming a vital part of the ministry there. Ten years into that journey, Rick joined her on a trip to Ozamiz. Witnessing firsthand the people and the place that had captured Beth’s heart, his own was moved in the same way. Together, they began to sense that God was calling them not just for short-term trips—but to a life of full-time service in the Philippines.

By 2012, the Hicks family had fully surrendered to that call. They sold their home in Celebration, Florida, and moved to Ozamiz City, where they now serve as full-time missionaries. Their ministry began formally in 2002 and continues today with a deep commitment to the people of Ozamiz. Sent and supported by Celebration Community Church, they focus on bringing hope and healing through the love of Christ—meeting physical needs, building lasting relationships, and sharing the transforming message of the Gospel.

"We thank God for those who partner with us through prayer, love, and financial support. You are a vital part of this ministry, and we could not do this work without you. Our hearts are continually overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness. Our prayer is that He will bless each of you abundantly."