Only six weeks in to our four year term, Rick and I were settling in to life in Chile once again, seeking God as to where to plant the next church. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, we took the motorcycle for spin to visit two young couples from CBC Church. Returning home, Rick suffered a fatal heart attack causing him to lose control of the bike and crash. I was riding on the back and spent 15 days in the hospital due to significant internal injuries, but incredibly, no broken bones.
Word of the accident spread like wildfire on social media and a crowd of pastors and people from the churches Rick & I had planted gathered at the hospital to pray. Rodrigo, a man who lost his wife suddenly to an aneurism a few years ago, asked the crowd, "What are we doing? We can cry over the loss of our beloved pastor and missionary or we can do something for the Kingdom of God right now. Who wants to come with me to pray for those who are in the Emergency waiting room?" Three others joined him and through their prayers and evangelism, six people accepted Christ that night and four were miraculously healed!
That night the verse pictured below was randomly drawn from Our Daily Bread cards in the hospital waiting room by Andrea, one of the church leaders. She desperately needed a word from God. He gave us Jeremiah 3:15 "And I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." To me it was as though God was saying, "Well done, Rick and Laurel."
On February 5, CBC Church, the pastors from the church plants, missionaries, friends and neighbors celebrated Rick's life and ministry. Young people were impacted with the stories of his "all in" dedication to spreading the Good News and several commented afterwards that they are re-evaluating their priorities because God is speaking to them, some about committing to full time ministry. I invited many non-Christian friends, many with whom Rick and I had shared about Jesus. Rick always felt that funerals were a great evangelism opportunity!
I was in the ICU for four days, the first two without food as the doctors were expecting to have to operate on the severely lacerated liver. But God said otherwise and there was no continued hemorrhaging. I was then transferred to a post operative room in a different hospital to continue recovery. The liver specialist said, "I believe you have experienced a miracle. If your liver had been damaged at a different angle the outcome would have been much worse." Just two days after the Memorial, David and I were winging our way to Seattle.
On March 4th, we celebrated Rick's life at Shoreline Community Church in Seattle. The only two people who were at both Memorials were my son, David, and I. Five members of the AGWM Executive Committee attended the Memorial, including Greg Mundis, as well as many pastors and missionary colleagues, friends and of course family.
The words shared by Pastor Stone and family members all remembered Rick as the fun and adventurous man, but also the man of great faith with a love for people and a passion to point them to Jesus.
The Rick Ellis Church Planting Memorial Fund has been set up to partner with new churches in Chile, thus perpetuating Rick's vision of planting healthy, self sustaining churches in strategic cities. To give online, go to www.ellis.cl/memorial-fund. Fund #891166 (Class 70)
My nephew, Mike Flathers, put together a beautiful video portraying Rick's personality, life and ministry.
If you would like to read posts remembering funny, poignant and life changing incidents about Rick, please go to ellis.cl/rick. The family and I ask that you please post your memory or picture!
Thank you to all who have sent gifts, cards and messages to encourage and bless me as I mourn the loss of my beloved husband, best friend and partner in ministry. Your prayers have made a difference! Just this week I received a clean bill of health from my doctor based on last week's MRIs.
As I rest and spend time in God's presence where He graciously gives me peace and hope, He is also at work concerning my future. In early April I will be sharing in Rick's place at a Church Planter's Dialogue in Costa Rica for missionaries across Latin America, speaking about the miracle that took place when CBC Church bought and paid for their half a million dollar property in just one year.
The Oregon Ministry Network will be ordaining me at The Summit, opening the door to be able to continue in ministry, which is my heartbeat. I ask that you pray for God's direction in my life and that you continue your financial support through this season of change.
© 2026 Laurel Ellis
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