In Richmond, Kentucky, just a few miles from I-75, Richmond House of Prayer (RHOP) is a Spirit-filled, non-denominational church that has gathered on Mule Shed Lane for four decades. Built around a simple two-fold mission - to be a place "where our members minister to God and minister to others" - RHOP anchors a community shaped by revivals, miracles, and a conviction that the best days of the Holy Spirit's work are still ahead.
From a Bank Meeting Room to a Remodeled Sanctuary
The church's story begins in 1984, when twelve members met in a local bank's meeting room. From there the fellowship moved to the back room of a carpet store, and then into what longtime members still call "the little blue building." In that modest space, dynamic revivals and miracles began drawing larger crowds. The congregation eventually purchased twelve acres on Mule Shed Lane and built the sanctuary that has defined RHOP ever since.
A March 2025 storm partially destroyed the sanctuary, and the building was torn down and rebuilt from the foundation up. Across fifteen months of construction, the church celebrated the grand reopening of a fully remodeled and expanded sanctuary in June 2026. The vision that started in a bank's conference room now carries a renewed home for the next generation of RHOP gatherings.
A Mission for Madison County and a Five-Part Core
RHOP defines "others" as any neighbor the church may come in contact with, especially those in Madison County and the surrounding community. Five Core Values give shape to that calling. RHOP encourages every Christian to Pursue God Relentlessly, to Love Unconditionally, to Give Generously, to Serve Wholeheartedly, and to Grow Endlessly. Giving, the church teaches, begins with surrendering one's life to God and flows outward into time, gifts, talents, tithes, and offerings. Service is presented as the very model Christ set by becoming "not a ruler, but a servant." Anyone who visits RHOP should expect to be welcomed with open arms and the love of Christ, "for it is through His love and grace that we are saved."
Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Nights at RHOP
Worship at RHOP centers on two weekly gatherings. Sunday worship begins at 10:30 a.m., and a Wednesday service meets at 6:30 p.m. Services typically run between an hour and a half and two hours and include a blend of musical styles, preaching and instruction from Scripture, prayer, and personal encouragement. There is no printed outline to follow, so visitors are encouraged to come ready for whatever the Lord leads. For those who cannot attend in person, services are streamed live on the church's Facebook page.
Pastors Who Lead RHOP
RHOP is led by a multi-generational team of pastors. Founding Pastors Owen and Gail Moody started the church in 1984 with twelve members and continue to shape its vision today; Pastor Moody also serves as President of the Full Gospel Ministerial Association of America and ministers across several continents. They recently celebrated fifty years of marriage.
Joseph and Samantha Johnson lead the young adult ministry, having joined RHOP in 2012 and helped launch Pursuit in 2016; both hold degrees from Eastern Kentucky University. Ryan and Darica Coates stepped into youth leadership in 2020 after years of volunteering and now oversee Encounter, the middle and high school ministry. Kenton and Kayla Hall serve as RKidz Pastors, walking alongside families with children from birth through middle school. Dylan and Lauren Ballard lead the Next Steps ministry; Dylan is also the grandson of the founding pastors and a lifelong RHOP member. Worship Pastors Nick and Brittany Fields round out the team, drawing on years of itinerant music ministry to lead congregational singing. Nick Fields' recording of "Waymaker" with Daywind Records in Nashville is available wherever music is streamed.
RKidz, Encounter Youth, and Pursuit Young Adults
Children's ministry at RHOP is called RKidz and welcomes kids from birth through middle school. RKidz meets every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Children check in before service begins, join their families for the worship portion, and are then dismissed to age-appropriate classes until the conclusion of the service. Nursery care is available for newborns through age two during both Sunday and Wednesday gatherings, and every RKidz staff member is background-checked and verified.
Encounter serves middle and high school students. The group meets Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. for food, worship, Bible study, and time together. During the sanctuary's remodel, Encounter joined the main service for worship and then split off for teaching.
Pursuit is the young adult ministry for high school graduates through age thirty-five. The group meets on the first and third Sundays of each month for live worship, Bible study, fellowship, and community, with regular social events added throughout the year. Pursuit also gathers in room 202 of the Mule Shed Lane campus during the Wednesday night service and is described by its leaders as a place where anyone can come as they are. The Mule Shed Lane campus sits about three miles from Eastern Kentucky University's campus.
R-Groups, Giving, and Staying Connected
Small group life happens through R-Groups, semester-based gatherings that meet in homes and around Madison County for fellowship, study, and prayer. Twice a year RHOP launches a new round of R-Groups; sign-ups and details are available through the Church Center app and the church's online groups page. Giving is available online through the church's Church Center platform and a dedicated giving site, and a series of next-steps forms help newcomers connect to ministries and serving opportunities.
Plan a Visit
Visitors to RHOP will find the church a few minutes off I-75 near the Richmond Centre at 330 Mule Shed Lane, just a few miles from the Richmond Centre. Parking is available in the lot attached to the building. RKidz check-in opens in the main lobby before each service, and a welcome desk is staffed by greeters happy to answer questions or help newcomers find an R-Group. Dress runs the full spectrum: jeans and T-shirts alongside suits and ties, and everything in between. The greeters, the families in the lobby, and the pastors all expect the same thing of first-time guests - to come as they are.