Meet Pastor Robert Trice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pastor Robert Trice. 

Hi Pastor Robert, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I was born and raised on the eastside of Detroit until my parents relocated our family to White Cloud, MI when I was 12 years old. We went from inner city life to what I like to call Mayberry. The move was a culture shock but I learned to adapt and appreciate life in a small town. I was a church kid that grew up in a large Christian family that includes 11 siblings. When I was a senior in high school, I hit a teenage rebellious stage and decided to leave my parent’s home and I left the church. There is a story in the Bible about the prodigal son that left his father’s house and found himself in a bad place wanting to go back home. That was me. I am the prodigal son. I spent years living a wild lifestyle, not valuing myself or respecting God. I found myself in a dark place, feeling hopeless but God welcomed me back with open arms. When I became a pastor, I wanted to have a church that does what God does, welcome His children with open arms. In the story of the prodigal son, when he was at his lowest, he began to rehearse what he would say to be welcomed back home. He didn’t know how he would be received when he went home. That’s how people feel when they think about going to church when they haven’t been in a long time or have never been. I too have experienced that feeling and have a heart for letting people know that they matter, they belong, and are welcome at church.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve definitely experienced many ups and downs and twists and turns as I was on a journey of becoming a man of faith. I never wanted to be a pastor. I never thought I was qualified to be a pastor. I used to focus on what I was not, but once I let go of who I thought I had to be and became who God was calling me to be, my life has been forever changed. I’ve found being a pastor is one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs to have because of the privilege to serve God by serving others. Also, saying yes to pursuing God’s purpose not only led me to accept my call as a minister/pastor but it also positively impacted other areas of my life. Including meeting and marrying my best friend, my wife Latricia Trice, who I met in church and have been married to for more than 15 years. As a result of our union, we have one biological son and two beautiful daughters that we adopted in 2020. When I look back at who I was in my teens and early/mid-20s, I don’t regret the choices I made because of the lessons learned, and ultimately the path I was on led me to understand the true meanings of redemption, hope, faith, and love. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m currently the lead pastor of Relevant Church Grand Rapids. I’ve been leading this church for over seven years. Relevant Church is a diverse church in Grand Rapids, MI made up of people from different cultures, ethnicities, age groups, and socio-economic levels that gather around Christ through Sunday worship, grow in community through small groups and fellowship, and go to the culture through outreach and community engagement. Our motto is whether you’re passionate about Jesus or still trying to figure Him out, there’s a place for you at Relevant. We only have one “rule” at Relevant Church and that is “Authenticity is the only requirement.” I believe in being real and taking off the masks we often hide behind. People have issues, people have problems, people have shortcomings and that’s okay. As a pastor, I’m committed to loving people to life and equipping them with God’s word to help them on their personal journeys of transformation and growth. 

In addition to full-time pastoring, I am a high school teacher. I teach Christian Doctrine to juniors and Worldview to seniors at Potter’s House High School. I really enjoy teaching students and hearing their different thoughts and perspectives. I’m also currently finishing my master’s degree in Ministry Leadership at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I welcome people to partner with Relevant church. There are three ways to partner: through volunteering, donations to advance the work we’re doing as a ministry to make a positive impact in our community, or by praying for us. 

Contact Info:

• Email: Info@relevantchurchgr.com
• Website: www.relevantchurchgr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relevantchurchgr/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/RelevantChurchGrandRapids
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/RelevantChurchGrandRapids