John Richter

I practiced as an engineer for 20 years before God opened a door in 2014 and fulfilled my dream of being a professor at Miami University. I have 4 wonderful children and an amazing wife that I love. Jesus has radically changed my life, healed me of anxiety attacks which were rooted in an abuse situation, healed my shoulder, healed my feet, healed my depression and has given me endless joy! Below is my story of coming to know Jesus as my Savior and friend! I was raised in a traditional religious home. I knew about God, but I had never experienced the reality of a personal relationship with Him. I was blessed to have both of my parents in the home along with my younger brother, Dan, and my older sister, Karen. I was not the kid who dabbled in drugs and got all messed up. I always did well in school, and I rarely got in trouble. I excelled in sports and eventually attended college on a basketball scholarship. It was in college that God began to draw me to Him and show me the way. Unlike my high school career, my college basketball career was very disappointing with respect to sports. I can look back and see how I struggled with depression in my life. Basketball was my life; it was my identity. John Richter, basketball star, was losing his meaning in life. I was embarrassed for my family and friends, and I constantly dealt with feelings that I was a failure. It was during this low point in my life that God was working on me to bring me to Him. I was searching for meaning and began to research and practice different religions. Finally, I decided to read the Bible. It was the first time that I had ever read the Bible. I began in the New Testament with the Book of Matthew and read all the way to Revelations. At first it was difficult to understand, but then the words began to “jump out at me.” There were things that I read which were different than what I was taught in my religion classes, and I began to ask the question, “What is the Truth?” It was through my reading of the Bible that I began to know this person that people call Jesus Christ. Before this, I only knew some facts about Him, but while reading the Bible I learned what He was like and how real He is. I was beginning to know and believe in Jesus and accept Him as my Savior and Lord. I can remember an event that took place around Christmas of 1991. I was at my college home by myself on a Friday night and I turned on the television. The movie Ben Hur “just happened” to be on. It looked interesting so I began to watch it. The movie eventually climaxed with the crucifixion of Jesus. The Holy Spirit used that movie to reveal the great love of Jesus to me that night. I began to weep as I watched Jesus be mercilessly crucified. My tears were of amazement that someone would die for me. At that moment I could feel the intense love of God for me. It was so strong that I could not help but weep. I can remember feeling so regretful for my sins and mistakes and telling God repeatedly how sorry I was, but at the same time feeling the awesome love and peace that Jesus took care of them for me. I knew that night that Jesus was real and He truly loved me. My life began to change as Jesus set me free of depression and His love brought me great joy. This experience of Jesus made me hungry for more and I began reading the New Testament again. This time I saw things that I had never seen before. I read about the day of Pentecost when the Apostles “received power from on high” and spoke in tongues. I read about the Samaritans being filled with the Holy Spirit after they had accepted Jesus and were baptized in water. I read about the incredible miracles that the Apostles did after being filled with the Holy Spirit. When I finished, I remember closing my Bible and asking God to fill me with the Holy Spirit. In May 1992, I visited my girlfriend who eventually became my wife. She took me to a church and they preached on being filled with the Holy Spirit. The pastor said that no matter what denomination you practice, be filled with the Holy Spirit. They prayed for me and the Holy Spirit came upon me, and suddenly in an instant, this incredible feeling of joy consumed me. I could not believe that the God who made the entire universe could possibly love me so much and touch me with His presence. I am not sure how long it lasted, but I continued laughing, then crying, then laughing, etc. This experience in the Holy Spirit confirmed to me the reality of God, His love, and His purpose for me. It changed my life forever! Since then, I have seen God do miraculous things for me and my family just as He said He would do in the Bible. He has healed me and my family of various things. He has protected us. He has guided us in His direction. And He continues to express to us every day His wonderful love and mercy! He has radically transformed my life.

My Life

Favorite Quote

"Faith is spelled R-I-S-K"--John Wimber

Friends describe me

Loud, Happy, Optimistic, Obsessive about Coffee

My hobbies

Basketball, Exercise, Playing Double Solitaire, Fishing

Fantasy dinner guests

Stephan Curry, Bill Johnson, Todd White

My undergrad alma mater

University of Dayton

My worst subject in school

English

In college I drove

Oldsmobile Calais

If I weren't a professor, I would

Engineer or Pastor or Coach

Favorite books

"John G. Lake: His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith" "The Heavenly Man" "Power Evangelism"

Favorite movies

The Passion, The Hunt for Red October, Hoosiers

Favorite city

Key Largo

Favorite coffee

Sumatra

Nobody knows I

Am the Boys Basketball Leading Scorer at my high school

My latest accomplishment

Leading the successful remodeling of our church