Pastor Brian was born in Meridian, MS on September 29, 1972 to then-Elder Ervin and Sister Betty Ricks. He was the fourth of seven Ricks’ children. At that time, Elder Ricks was the newly appointed pastor of the new Christ Temple Church in Itta Bena, MS. Pastor Brian literally grew up on the benches of Christ Temple Church, hearing the Apostolic Doctrine being taught by his dad. At the age of 7, Brian was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ along with his older brother, Ervin Jr., on the elder brother’s 9th birthday – June 29, 1980. A few years later, Brian received the Holy Ghost while “tarrying” with the youth group at Christ Temple.

As was the case for all the young people at Christ Temple Church, Brian was very active in the activities of the Christ Temple Church Youth Department. He remembers well participating in the Sunshine Band, youth choir, skits, Heaven & Hell Suppers, bonfires, wiener roasts, softball games, etc. He participated in fundraising activities such as the peanut route and the “can clan”. He was also the drummer for the church. It was during those formative years at Christ Temple that young Brian would develop deep spiritual roots, even if not fully appreciated at that time.

By the time he was a freshman at Mississippi Valley State University, Brian’s natural leadership abilities were apparent, and he was elected president of his freshman class. He had been appointed Chairman of the Youth Department at Christ Temple. During that same year, Brian’s first child, Brian II (BJ) was born. 

By his sophomore year, Brian joined Greater Bethel Apostolic Church in Greenwood, MS, under the leadership of then-District Elder Earnest Miller. In January 1993, Brian moved to Tuskegee, AL, to attend Tuskegee University. During that time, he began attending Pentecostal Faith Church under the leadership of Bishop G.F. Austin, Jr. It was also during that time that he met and began to witness to a coworker, Montoyia Lopez. The two would soon fall in love, and by the end of 1993, the two were married.

Brother Brian was soon appointed a deacon, and he and sister Ricks welcomed their first daughter, Alicia, in December 1994, and by December 1995, the family had moved twice - to Birmingham and to Huntsville, AL - and had added one more daughter, Brittany. In Birmingham, the Ricks family attended Emmanuel Pentecostal Church under District Elder William Fitts. The family remained in Huntsville for 3 1/2 years and attended Pentecostal Lighthouse Church under the late-Bishop Johnny Burrell.

Finally, by 1998, the Ricks family moved to Chattanooga, TN and attended Emmanuel Pentecostal Church under Pastor Norma Smith. It was during that time in Chattanooga that Deacon Ricks accepted the call into the ministry. The new minister preached his first sermon at Emmanuel Pentecostal Church.