Dr. Richard A. Means, Jr., leads with a heart for people and a passion for evangelism and discipleship. Dr. Means began his pastoral ministry in Northwestern Canada as an Associate Pastor in the Alberta Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Serving at the Garden Road Seventh-day Adventist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ishmael Ali, Pastor Means created and managed programs for children, teens, and families, coordinated public events, including multicultural festivals and leadership retreats, and led bible studies that prepared candidates for baptism. His ministry to immigrant families, along with his commitment to cultural celebrations, reflect his belief that the church is strongest when it embraces the rich diversity of God’s family. This commitment to pastoral care, discipleship, and leadership led to his ordination to the gospel ministry in 2017.
Born and raised in New York, Dr. Means accepted a call to return home to the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 2018 to serve as the Senior Pastor of Willis Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church. There, he led direct service programs for housing-insecure families, older adults, and individuals in recovery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he expanded the church's weekly food distribution operations, enabling it to provide essential meals to an average of 3,000 individuals per week. His trauma-informed leadership approach reduced community disengagementand increased program participation.
Dr. Richard A. Means Jr.
Dr. Means has a deep commitment to community transformation and social justice. He has launched several community initiatives focused on wellness, education, and engagement, and has built meaningful partnerships with city agencies, officials, schools, and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, while serving as the Senior Pastor of the Mount Sinai Seventh-day Adventist Church, Dr. Means fostered a culture of collaboration, unity, and service. His strategic planning initiatives strengthened organizational cohesion and positioned the church for sustainable impact in the community. More specifically, Dr. Means led the church to increase support to new ministry initiatives, and expanded its weekly food distribution center, serving hundreds of families.
Beginning his theological education at Southern Adventist University, Pastor Means completed a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Philosophy. He went on to attend Andrews University’s Theological Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity, then matriculated to Claremont School of Theology, where he earned a Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership.
Serving as the new Senior Pastor of the Kingsboro Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church and the newly appointed Associate Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the Northeastern Conference, Dr. Means is a leader of high integrity, sound judgment, and genuine compassion. He is a gifted communicator and skillful orator who brings excellence to every aspect of ministry. His aptitude for strategic visioning is matched by his pastoral heart as he genuinely cares for people and is invested in developing leaders at every level. Dr. Means believes that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).