Our Team Leaders

NCBN Moderator Elect

Rick Downing

Rick Downing was elected as our Moderator Elect on Sunday, September 29, 2026. Before the vote, Rick served on the Great Commission Team since the formation of the NCBN in 2022. Rick is currently the senior pastor at Pleasureville Baptist Church, where he has served since 2021. Before that, he served in Arizona and at his first home church in Mayfield, KY.

After serving nine years in the U.S. Navy, Rick began working at Paducah’s Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The boldness of a Christian co-worker knew that he had a wife (Chrissy) and two daughters (Heather and Tiffany) and implored them to “take those kids to church.” Those words pierced Rick, and within a few weeks he told his wife, “Honey, let’s get the kids ready for church.” That began a journey of faith that changed the course of his life (moving from spiritual death to a life of following Christ), his career, and ultimately led to full-time ministry.

The church at Mayfield encouraged him to serve in various areas, including Baptist Builders, youth ministry, serving as a deacon, and eventually ordained Rick into the Gospel ministry.

Through all of life’s changes, Rick continues to lean on the promise found in Mark 6:33: “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

NCBN Moderator

Rick Grice

biolodeon@hotmail.com

Rick Grice was elected as our Moderator Elect on Sunday, September 15, 2024 and on Sunday, September 29, 2026, he began his term as Moderator. Before the vote, Rick served on the transition team when the NCBN was formed and has been a part of the network Administration Team for the last two years. Rick is a retired Christian school administrator and currently serves as a Deacon at Smithfield Baptist Church. Coming from a family of pastors, he is always looking for ways to be involved in the work of the Kingdom. He has been married for 43 years and has two children and five grandchildren. Rick is enthusiastic about serving on the Leadership team and strongly believes in the benefits that the NCBN offers to our churches as they minister to our communities.

NCBN Administrative Team Leader

Rick Durham

richarddurham64@gmail.com

Rick Durham serves on the Administrative Team and has been the Team Lead since 2016. He has been a member of New Life Baptist Church since 1981. Rick invited the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart and accepted Him as his personal Lord and Savior at the age of 13. He was blessed to have been raised in a Christian home and also attributes coming to know the Lord to the time spent with his grandmother, Billie Gordon, in her Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes, as well as visiting individuals and families in the community to share the Good News. Rick serves in various roles at New Life, including Deacon, Co-Treasurer, and previously teaching an Adult Sunday School Class. He is also a Gideon with Gideons International, Shelbyville Camp. In the public sector, Rick serves as a Director for a public fleet and assists as a Transport Logistics Chief during emergency response matters. Rick and his wife Sheila have been married for 32 years and have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. He enjoys serving the Lord, reaching out to those around him, and studying the Bible with his Brothers & Sisters in Christ.

NCBN Church Health and Leadership Team Leader

Dan Reid

dreid@shelbyvillebaptist.com

Dan Reid assumed the Team Leader position on the Church Health and Leadership Team for our Network on September 21, 2025. For over 30 years, Dan has served churches in Texas, Washington, and Florida before coming to Shelbyville First Baptist in 2023, where he serves as the Senior Pastor.

Dan and his wife, Angie, have been married since 1990. They have three adult children and four grandchildren—and a few things bring them more joy than spending time with their family. Dan is a fan of the Atlanta Braves and the Florida Gators and loves to get out and play golf.

He earned his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing his Doctorate at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dan is passionate about preaching, theology, good books, and better coffee. At the heart of his ministry is a deep desire to see the gospel transform lives, a vision anchored in his life verse, Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

NCBN Great Commission Team Leader

Chris Platt

cplatt@hbc-ky.com

Chris Platt has served as Team Leader on the Great Commission Team under the SBA for 3 years and 1 year for our Network. Chris has been the Lead Pastor at Highland Baptist Church of Shelbyville since September 2014. He is a PK who grew up in Miami, Louisville, New Jersey, and Houston. He previously served Kentucky Baptist churches in Louisville, Henderson, Somerset, and Crestwood. Chris is a graduate of Baylor University, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he received his Doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Phyllis, have been blessed with two daughters, Alyssa and Rachel, and six grandchildren. He enjoys family time, sharing the gospel, listening to Christian music, eating ice cream, attempting to play basketball, softball, and golf, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats, Baylor Bears, and Boston Red Sox. His life verse is Galatians 2:20.

NCBN WMU Team Leader

Susan Bryant

susanfay@twc.com

Susan Bryant has served as Team Leader for the WMU Team since 2018. When Susan was just a mere 4 years old, she began attending Graefenburg Baptist Church in Shelby County, where she currently serves in her church as the GA leader (for 40+ years). She currently serves on the SBC executive committee. At 11 years old, she became a Christian. Susan retired after a 30-year career in Kentucky state government. Susan has also served as Associational WMU Director and on the KY WMU Executive Board for several terms culminating with her serving as State WMU president from 2014 – 2018. Additionally, she served two terms as a trustee for the International Mission Board and has worked with IMB and NAMB missionaries around the world and across the US. Susan is known for her caring and loving personality, and she spreads the Love and Word of Jesus wherever she goes. She simply lights up the room everywhere she goes. She can play a mean game of UNO too!