Pastor combines personal stories with biblical teachings

Pastor Mike Rima, 45, makes attending church fun. His sermons are not so much preaching as weaving personal life stories (often taking humorous jabs at himself) with Bible teachings.

After attending college in Washington State University, he served as a youth pastor for seven years, then hit the road as a motivational speaker in public schools across the United States and Canada, until finding a permanent home at Lake City Community Church in Coeur d’Alene.

What is your job title?: “Lead pastor at Lake City Community Church.”

How long have you been doing this?: “Lake City began as a satellite campus for New Life Community Church in Rathdrum. The plan was to allow this new congregation to become a separate church once it became evident that it could sustain itself. The decision was made in June 2001 that Lake City Church would become a sovereign entity and that I would be its first pastor.”

How did you choose this line of work?: “As a child, I had a very strong sense of God’s presence in my life. I can remember, very distinctly, God making me aware of his love for me. I have always known that he has had a purpose and plan for my life. I tried to run from it when I was in junior high and high school.

However … during my senior year in high school I determined to travel a path that would enable me to help teenagers make a responsible decision in their life. I went to Northwest College in Kirkland, Wash., to pursue a degree in Youth Ministry. I became a youth pastor in the Seattle area where I served students for seven years. Then I began traveling the U.S. and Canada as a motivational speaker in public schools. Eventually, I was invited to join the teaching team at New Life in order to launch this new church.

Are you paid (a) well; (b) more than you are worth; (c) slave wages, (d) could be better?: (b) “More than I’m worth.”

What is the best thing about your job?: “Transformed lives! It’s an unbelievable privilege to have a front-row seat to a restored marriage, a mended heart, a renewed faith!

What is the worst thing about your job?: “Not enough space! We currently have approximately 1,700 people attending a church that has an auditorium that seats approximately 450 people. That requires us to have four weekend services – one on Friday at 7 p.m. and three on Sunday – 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. We need a larger facility.

Do you plan on doing this job (a) until retirement; (b) until something better comes along?: “(a) until retirement.”

Do you have any on-the-job funny stories?: “When I was a youth pastor in Seattle, I was on staff in a church that had a big choir. Every Sunday, before the pastor would speak, the choir director (a woman) would walk from the front row of the church, up the stairs to the platform, where she would conduct the choir in an anthem.

On this particular Sunday, I noticed something odd about her dress as she approached the stairs. There seemed to be an inside layer of dress that was longer than it should be. As she climbed the stairs, I noticed that the layer was getting longer! By the time she stood in front of the choir, and her arms made a swooping motion upward to conduct the choir, the inside layer of dress fell around her ankles. It was actually her slip! She was only weeks away from getting married and she had lost so much weight that her slip would not stay up.”

Any bad experiences?: “Not enough time for this one!”

If there was a movie made about you and your job, what actor should play you?: ” I really don’t know. I thought it would be best to let the staff respond to this one.” The staff answers:

“Scotty from ‘Star Trek’ – I’m giving it all I’ve got Captain!”

” ‘Shrek’ – obvious similarity.”

“Arnold Schwarzenegger. No, too political!”