Rick Lamothe graduated from Military College in Canada in 1987, and then served as a Logistic Army Transportation Officer in the Canadian Military until God called him to church planting in 1994. He took an early retirement, left the security of a full pension, and went to Seminary in Langley, British Columbia.

From 1998 to 2011, Rick planted a successful pioneering multi-staff church in Canada’s Capital City of Ottawa. Rick was known for his “out-of-the-box thinking” in bringing contextual and effective evangelism to the community. By the last year of his season there, Sequoia Church had grown to about 300 regular attendees, with 70% of them baptized in the church.

In early 2012, Rick moved from Ottawa, Ontario to Calgary, Alberta to work for Samaritan’s Purse Canada, becoming an International Regional Director at Operation Christmas Child for 7 countries in West and Central Africa. He was responsible for the delivery of over 300,000 shoe boxes to children in poverty.

In 2016, Rick became the Director of Advancement for RSVP Ministries - responsible to raise funds for the ministry. Once again, his pioneering spirit was at work, and he organized an RV tour across Canada to raise awareness about all the changes within the ministry. Rick continued to instigate fundraising and awareness initiatives for 4 years; all of which had a great impact.

In November 2020, the unprecedented Covid-19 Global Pandemic caused Rick to be laid-off from his duties at RSVP… not a problem for an “APE”! He relished the opportunity to write his upcoming first book - “The Greatest Invitation - Reflecting the Glory and Majesty of God” and to start this new itinerant ministry of the APE Alternative!