Larry also told the Father that he did not want to be one of those pastors/preachers (Larry’s way of understanding it at the time) who just fell in line with the status quo. Even with an immature faith, Larry knew that, with so many different churches in the world, something wasn’t quite right. Just prior to this, Larry and Barbra had found a church that they felt comfortable in, not for theological reasons, but simply because the people were kind. Once Larry felt the call, various physical symptoms began to occur to him every Sunday morning that seemed to be working to prevent the two from going to church. After four weeks, or so, Larry thought that he should speak to his uncle who was a pastor. The two went to his uncle's church one Sunday evening and were anointed with oil and prayed over regarding the physical symptoms and Larry’s calling. The symptoms stopped and Larry felt he had received the confirmation of his call.
With little guidance, Larry made assumptions about what he needed to do. He spoke with the pastor of the church where they attended and began the process of being licensed as a minister, and he also transferred his schooling to a BA in pastoral ministry program. Larry felt he was grasping at straws as he tried to be obedient to what the Father had asked him to do. He simply did not understand what the call was all about, but he moved ahead the best he knew how.
During this time, marriage and life was not easy. Any of the many trials, struggles, and temptations that the two faced could have been the end of it all. In spite of the difficulties and shortcomings, the Father began to bless them with children; Lily was born in 1999, Eli in 2001, Wynnie in 2003, Mati in 2008, Tovi in 2018, and Verity in 2020. They are all such blessings!
Larry was licensed as a minister in 1999, and shortly after began to fill pastoral positions; youth pastor (1999-2002), associate pastor (2002-2007), and pastor (2007-2010). Throughout this time, Larry also completed his BA at Trinity College of the Bible, and a MA in theological studies and an MDiv in counseling at Grace College and Theological Seminary. More importantly was what the Father was beginning to show Larry and Barbra in 2002. Through some of the most humble means, the Father began to urge them to question some of the assumptions they had held regarding faith and practice. Larry and Barbra had eagerly embraced some of the foundational concepts of the Anabaptist/Pietist denomination of which they were members. Of course, adult baptism (immersion) was one of the distinguishing points, but it was the overarching belief of returning to the faith and practice of the 1st century believers which really connected with Larry. This passionately drove his learning and desire to implement what he learned. With a college and seminary’s library at his fingertips, Larry began to study as much outside of the context of his classes as he did for his classes. What he began to find would change his theology as well as his career and his family’s life forever.
Larry and Barbra began to realize that many of the things believed in churches, taught in Bible colleges and seminaries, and practiced by Christians were simply not biblical. They themselves had earnestly and faithfully believed and practiced many things that completely contradicted Scripture, not to mention the life, faith, purpose, and practices of the Savior. All this would begin to slowing change in the Rice household (Beit Orez) over the next several years as they attempted to align their beliefs and practices with Scripture and the One they now referred to as Yeshua Messiah.
Eventually, Larry and Barbra left their denomination and the idea of Larry being a “career” pastor. By that time, they had been keeping the Sabbath, other appointed times, and other commands of the Torah (first five books of the Bible) for several years. They knew that they needed to start a Torah honoring Sabbath fellowship for their family and others. In July of 2010, The Gathering Place was established with the Rice family, two other couples whom Larry and Barbra had known, two families from Church of God 7th Day, and some other individuals. Amazingly, over 150 different people spent some significant time as a part of this group from 2010 to 2016. Many who had been a part of The Gathering Place blessed and strengthened the faith of the Rice family, and those relationships will continue to be cherished.
The Rice family took a Sabbatical from fellowship commitments and responsibilities from August of 2016 to October of 2017, as they sought what the Father had for them next. They remained ever ready and willing to follow His voice and guidance, but gratefully accept the year of rest. Larry and Barbra have learned a lot about ministering to people, founding/leading a fellowship, raising a family, marriage, and themselves.
In the summer of 2017, the Rice family sold The Gathering Place building and their house in Syracuse, IN. They purchased a home and few acres in the land of Goshen (Indiana that is) to call their family home. They've also began to host Sabbath gatherings again in their home, and look forward to what the Father is going to do.
Larry is currently the Director of Support Services for Indiana’s largest nonprofit hospice organization. Larry earned a MBA in 2017 and Barbra completed a BS in business management in addition to running a household and homeschooling the children. Lily got married to Isaac in September of 2021. Eli got married Elisa in November of 2022. Wynnie has finished illustrating a couple of children's books and is set to complete her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Development in 2023. Mati is currently doing his homeschooling studies and building his muscles in our garage weight room. Tovi and Verity remain beautiful reminders of how our Father has blessed us in our "old age".
Larry and Barbra Rice met when they were 15 years old, and married on May 4th, 1996, when they were 19 years old. Not only did their relationship with each other begin at 15, but also their intentional journey with their Creator. Young love and immature belief are a volatile combination, but they’ve made it through those early years by the grace of their heavenly Father.
Shortly after their marriage, while in their second year of college, Larry felt the call into ministry. He was in school to be a history teacher, and Barbra was an art history major. Larry wasn’t sure what this call meant, or even how to define it, he just knew that his heavenly Father was asking him to do something he’d never considered. Larry challenged the Father at that time by asking him to prove the call.
Beit Orez
