Bethany Reformed Church
705 Cajon Street, Redlands CA  92373  (909)793-1966

  Getting to Know… 

Rick and Melinda Gernhardt

Poker Alice was on the loose and we were in hot pursuit. Wait; let me back up a bit. When I arrived at the Gernhardt’s they were searching for their beautiful shorthair tabby, a former show-cat, who had seen an open door and decided to enjoy the gorgeous day outside. Rick soon rescued her from the rafters of an outbuilding and according to Melinda this was the biggest adventure Alice had ever had. And so our story begins…..

            Melinda Gernhardt is a child of Bethany. She was born to Martha and Dennis Kennedy, both retired school teachers from the RUSD. Dennis was an English teacher who also spent many years coaching the track and cross-country team at Redlands High. Martha, also an English teacher at RHS, was an award winning speech and debate coach for over two decades. Scott Kennedy, who attends Bethany with his family, is her older brother. She has always enjoyed drawing and continues that interest. Melinda attended Redlands public schools, even having her Mom as her speech and debate coach for three years. She then attended Point Loma College but after the first semester decided to transfer to Westmont College so that she could travel abroad with them for a semester….a very critical decision, as you will later find out. She finished at Westmont with the first degree in Art History and Studio Art in Westmont’s history. Later on she obtained her Master’s of Arts degree at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. While in grad school she had the opportunity to travel to Holland and Italy for seminars to study their way of collecting art in the museums there.

            Frederick Gernhardt V, or as we know him, Rick, was born in Sunnyvale, California in the Silicon Valley to Betty and Frederick IV. His Mom was a teacher at one time and is currently working for Hewlett Packard in information technology. His Dad retired as a data center manager, working with computers. According to Rick, you couldn’t ask for better parents. He doesn’t have any siblings because, as Rick joked, they got it right the first time! (He couldn’t even say it with a straight face.) Rick loved baseball as a kid and all through high school he thought he would like to be a pro player but an injury which blew out his arm ended those dreams. Rick also enjoyed playing chess, football and basketball. He attended Homestead High, the school which also graduated Steven Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computers. Rick chose to attend Westmont College where he also headed up the homeless ministry. He earned his degree in Biblical Studies and Philosophy. It was in his senior year there that he spent a semester abroad, as his Mom had planned from his freshman year. Later Rick attended Princeton Theological Seminary where he obtained his Master’s of Divinity. Rick enjoys golfing, playing guitar with the Praise Team and reading.

            It was during the trip abroad, mentioned beforehand, that Melinda and Rick met, first, as they shared an umbrella at a Shakespearean play in England without speaking a word to each other, and later in Israel when her roommate introduced them. They shared many adventures on that trip thru 10 countries and are still doing so as they will celebrate eight years of matrimony in July. They would like to continue to travel with Hawaii, Europe and Tahiti at the top of their list.

            The aforementioned tabby cat, Poker Alice, named after a famous outlaw, is their only “child”. She’s five years old and comes from a prominent line of famous cats. Her aunt appeared in the movie “Stuart Little 2”.  Alice ended her cat show career and came to live with the Gernhardts when she was given to Melinda as a graduation gift from Rick.

            Melinda had a wonderful opportunity before she graduated from college to intern at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art where she worked in the collections management department. Later, as she worked towards her master’s degree, she worked at the Princeton University Arts Museum, also in collections. She is currently working at the Palm Springs Art Museum as an assistant registrar of collection management, a very recent and happy career move. Melinda loves spending time with family and friends and is working at making their home one with a strong foundation.

            Rick believes he has always had a real call to the ministry although he has had many jobs, i.e. selling Mercedes, as a real estate broker, etc.  He has served in pastoral internships in four different churches both with youth, young families and visitation. He is currently a real estate broker with Country Wide Bank. But more importantly he is currently serving as Bethany’s intern pastor! I wish I could convey to you the fire and passion that this young man has for the Lord! He is anxious to work with the young families and to get to know the people here; to have conversations about what the Lord has put on their hearts, because the Lord will grow those kernels if we work together; we can do what the Lord will bubble up from the ground. Rick is committed to the fruitfulness of Bethany. He wants us to catch the vision and let God use us, to see the possibilities. He would like to see us reach out in a dynamic way and live what we believe in our communities.

            Rick and Melinda have been greatly influenced by their parents. As Melinda said, “They have a massive influence on your life.” Another person whom she would like to emulate is her grandma, Gladys Hoke, a Bethany member from 1987-1999, who had a heart for people without regard to social standing. I remember her sweet smile fondly. Rick told me that his parents are very compassionate, gracious, kind, forgiving and loving people; a description that any parent would be pleased to hear from their child. Melinda also shared with me that early Christian paintings were a major influence and a revelation to her. She said that the stained glass window in our church has always been a witness to her; it’s the Apostle’s Creed, from beginning to end.

            Both Rick and Melinda agree that God’s timing is always right, but it may not be our timing. They have learned during their recent waiting process on jobs that you need to nurture the vision that God has given you, even in the dry times, so that when that time comes you’ll be prepared and fruitful. Romans 8:31-32, which speaks of God being for us and giving so freely to us, are verses that have helped them to get thru the difficult times. Other verses that Melinda claims are Jeremiah 29:11-13, teaching us that God has a plan for each of us, plans to help us and to give us hope and a future. Well, right now that future includes Bethany and we’re so glad to welcome them into the internship position. They hope that the visions and passions of our congregation, the very heart of Bethany, will be brought out, prayed over and then we will go out and be fruitful in our community. Rick and Melinda are excited to see how God is going to use them here at Bethany….and so are we! 

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