photo by CAROL SHETLER The Muncy Baptist Church Pastoral Search Committee and pastor are (left to right): Thomas Henninger, chair; the Rev. Robert Rice; Barbara Land; and Shaun Bartlow.

MUNCY – The Rev. Robert Rice and his family have comfortably settled in at the Baptist Church parsonage in Muncy after arriving here in August 2013.

The Coatsville native said he had ignored that still small voice urging him to follow a career in the ministry. “My parents and grandparents had always been active in the Baptist Church, my grandfather a deacon much of his life. It wasn’t until after his passing that I seriously considered the ministry,” Rice said.

By this time, Rice had concluded undergraduate studies in business at Drexel University and then moved on to graduate from Liberty Baptist Seminary.

This is the Reverend’s second post having come to Muncy from Berwick. “We like this friendly small community, the schools and availability of shops close by,” he said.

The Rice family includes wife Jen, daughters Alexia and Kaylyn, and sons Cole and Cohen.

The pastor is a percussionist and sometimes during a blended style of song service, plays drums with a guitar accompanist. His favorite hymns are “Come Thou Fount of Many Blessings,” and Be Thou My Vision.” Proverbs 3:5-6 was identified as his favorite Bible passage.

Of the church he said, “We’re excited about the direction of the church. A purpose mission, ‘Serving to connect individuals to an ever deepening faith in Christ,’ has been developed in the short time I’ve been here.”

Members of the search committee not pictured include Sandy and Whitney Bernan, Linda Beth and Carol Savoy.