Leadership

Servant Leaders

Wildwood is blessed to have great men and women of God leading our church family. Our staff are servant leaders who don't just serve, but also equip us to serve others. Our deacons are the lead servants of the church as they work alongside the staff to minister to our church family.

Pastoral Staff

SENIOR PASTOR

Dr. Rick Nichols

Rick became the senior pastor of Wildwood in the summer of 2014. He and his wife, Amy, have been married since 2000 and have two children. He grew up in Pittsburg, TX, and was called to the ministry at 19 after being saved during a revival at Welcome Home Baptist Church.

A devoted family man, Rick enjoys woodworking and restoration projects. He cheers for the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys, and proudly embraces his inner nerd as a fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, and classic sci-fi.

“Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.”

- 1 TIMOTHY 4:12

B.S. RELIGION • M.DIV. CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP • D.MIN. PASTORAL COUNSELING

Lead Spanish PASTOR

Juan Guizar

Pastor Juan Guizar was born and raised in Monterrey, México, and came to faith in Christ in 1995 while attending church with his girlfriend — now his wife. Through the preaching of God's Word and the fellowship of believers, he came to understand the gospel and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. That moment set the course for everything that followed.

Today, Juan serves as pastor of Wildwood Español, the Spanish-language ministry of Wildwood Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas. Wildwood Español shares the same heart as its home church — helping people become fully functioning followers of Jesus Christ — and exists to reach and disciple the Spanish-speaking community through the same love, grace, and truth of Scripture.

Pastor Juan's approach to ministry is straightforward: the Word of

God is the foundation. He strives to base his decisions, leadership, and every aspect of ministry on the truth and wisdom found in Scripture, trusting that God's Word is sufficient for every need and every season.

Outside of ministry, Juan enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and keeping up with sports — he's a proud Cowboys fan. He also loves exploring new restaurants and spending quality time with family and friends.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Jarod Stovall

Jarod and his wife Charlotte came to Wildwood in January 2018. Originally from Mesquite, TX, Jarod earned his Bachelor's in Pastoral Ministry at Wesley College. He views his calling as a lifestyle rather than an occupation.

After college, Jarod volunteered across youth, media, and children's ministries. Since joining Wildwood, he co-founded the Life Group 36:26 with a goal to better understand the Bible as a unified story leading to Jesus.

An educator since 2015, Jarod currently teaches Science at Berry Middle School. He enjoys road trips, being creative, and spending time with his wife and dogs.

ASSOCIATE Espanol PASTOR

Christian Gutierrez

Cristian Gutierrez grew up in Richardson, Texas, and came to faith in Christ through the power of music — a gift that would go on to shape not only his personal walk with God but his entire approach to ministry.

Cristian serves as Assistant Pastor of Wildwood Español, the Spanish-language ministry of Wildwood Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas. He also serves alongside his father-in-law, Pastor Juan Guizar, making their ministry together a true family affair rooted in a shared passion for reaching the Spanish-speaking community with the gospel.

A gifted musician, Cristian plays several instruments and has a heart for using music as a bridge to connect people — especially young people — to Christ. His love for working with youth is evident in both his energy and his guiding principle: lead by example. He believes that authentic, lived-out faith is the most powerful testimony a leader can offer.

When he's not serving at Wildwood Español, Cristian enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, and finding great places to eat out.