Rich and Michelle Ghrist both grew up in northeast Ohio. They started dating at the start of their freshman year of college, and there has been no looking back! They have two grown children, Aaron and Lauren. Michelle teaches mathematics at Gonzaga University and Rich works as an engineer though he was trained as a scientist.

Rich was raised in a Christian household, but in his teen years God gently opened Rich’s heart through music (Thank you, Steve Camp!) and changed his life. God knew just how to reach this lifelong musician and introvert. Loving keyboard and bass, he has been a part of worship teams since he was 16 years old.

Actually knowing God, His heart, and His ways, not merely participating in a cold, intellectual pursuit of theology about God, is very important to Rich. He is committed to seeing the church rooted into the grace, love, and power of God, embracing the life we are called to in Christ, and declaring Jesus’ finished work on our behalf that we could never do for ourselves.

A self-described “denominational mutt,” Rich has experienced many diverse expressions of the body of Christ through the years. That rich journey led Rich and Michelle to Spokane in 2017, and they have been a part of the Destination Church family since 2019. Rich is happily a part of the one global body in Christ as he helps lead Destination Church in embracing the people of Hillyard and Spokane.