Leadership
Lead Pastor Rick Ash
Along with his wife, Bethany, and their four children—Brendyn, Thomas, Megan, and Addilyn—Pastor Rick Ash left Newport Beach, California, to join the ministry of Fremont Baptist Temple in the summer of 2011. Their family was quickly and affectionately welcomed into the church family. Their kind and humble spirit, coupled with biblical wisdom and a genuine love for people, has endeared them to the hearts of those they serve.
Before becoming Pastor in April of 2025, Pastor Ash faithfully served for fourteen years as the principal of Temple Christian Academy, where he invested in the lives of many young people and their families. During his years of ministry at Fremont Baptist Temple, he has demonstrated steady, Christlike leadership in every area—teaching God’s Word, leading in worship, and offering encouragement and guidance to those in need.
A graduate of West Coast Baptist College, Pastor Ash previously served in his home church and Christian school in California for eleven years before following God’s call to Fremont. He and Bethany share a deep burden to see families strengthened in their faith and believers growing in their walk with Christ.
You will find Pastor Rick and Bethany to be a warm, approachable couple who love people and are eager to serve the Lord together with the Fremont Baptist Temple family.
Pastor Emeritus Gary Click
"In October of 2006, I was happy to accept the call to pastor the Fremont Baptist Temple. Soon we were packing the U-haul and saying a tearful goodbye to our good friends at Calvary Baptist Church in Clinton, Indiana. Our ministry there had been profitable. We had seen many souls come to Christ and watch God bless this small town church. Yet I know that God had another task awaiting us in Ohio. Thanksgiving dinner awaited us after our first service on the third week of November and we were thankful for the Lord's direction in our lives."
While attending Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, Michigan, Pastor Click met and married Nanette (Leach). They are the proud parents of four boys Nathaneil (8/28/1990), Zachary (9/02/1993), Garrison (10/26/2000) and Micah (6/11/2003). 2012 brought the graduation of Nate from West Coast Baptist College with a major in Bible and Missions and Zachary's graduation from high school. They boys all enjoy soccer. Nate and Zach also played high school basketball while Garrison and Micah are currently enjoying horseback riding.
In over twenty years of ministry, Pastor Click has served in many aspects of ministry including youth ministry, bus ministry, writing, law enforcement chaplaincy, radio, Christian drama, Christian education and lobbying Congress on behalf of churches and Christian schools. He currently serves in an advisory capacity for Baptist International Outreach and the Carpenter's Project and serves on the board of the Buckeye Christian School Association. Pastor Click's sermons are broadcast twice a week on WHVT 90.5 FM (Clyde, Ohio) and available for download at www.light4living.org.
Youth Pastor Chris Pethtel
No demographic can be more vital to the health of a church than the youth. A church that is not actively engaging young people is dead already whether they know it or not. Chris Pethtel has been focused on meeting that need here at Fremont Baptist Temple since 2015.
A graduate of West Coast Baptist College, Chris is passionate about investing in young people, not just on Sunday mornings but all throughout the week. His wife, Jocelyn works with him, faithfully providing additional leadership and positive interaction with our teens. They are the parents of four darling girls: Bailey, Alivia, Kaylan, and Emmilyn.
Chris and Jocelyn also teach at Temple Christian Academy where he enjoys coaching the Warriors Soccer team.
While activities are important and abundant at FBT, the Pethtels also know the meaning of relationships. Young people are looking for more than entertainment, they want and need friends that are real. They are passionate about mentors who are genuine and down to earth. Teens value leaders who will add value to their lives through honesty and transparency. The Pethtel’s would enjoy engaging with you here at Fremont Baptist Temple.
Children's Pastor Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith, along with his wife Lauren and their two children, have been a part of the ministry of Fremont Baptist Temple since August of 2022. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Daniel has long had a heart for serving the Lord through both teaching and discipleship. He currently serves as the Children’s Pastor for our church and as a teacher at Temple Christian Academy.
Daniel graduated from West Coast Baptist College in 2014. Since that time, he has faithfully ministered in Christian education in both Ohio and Pennsylvania, investing in the lives of young people in the classroom and beyond. Regardless of the subject he is teaching, his desire is the same—to point students to truth and help them see how God’s Word shapes everyday life. As both a teacher and a father, he has a special desire to see young people develop convictions that will guide them long after they leave the classroom.
Daniel is passionate about teaching the truths of the Bible to both children and adults and helping believers develop a steady, lifelong walk with God. He seeks to lead with both wisdom and approachability, believing that truth is best received when communicated clearly—and sometimes with a well-timed bit of humor. He is especially burdened to see believers develop convictions that will carry them through every stage of life, remaining faithful to Christ no matter what seasons they face.