Rico Tice Biography: Powerful Faith, Ministry and Books

Discover his early life, education, Christian ministry, family, books and current work

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introdution

Rico Tice is a British Christian evangelist, Bible teacher, author and international speaker. He is best known as the co-founder of Christianity Explored Ministries and one of the main developers of the Christianity Explored course.

His career has focused on helping people understand Jesus through Bible study, open conversations, church courses and practical evangelism training. Like another respected Christian pastor and author, he has used books, talks and media resources to reach people beyond a traditional church setting.

Rico Tice is currently the Co-founder and Evangelist at Christianity Explored Ministries.

Quick Bio

Field	Details
Full name	Richard Ian Tice
Known as	Rico Tice
Birth year	1966
Birthplace	Chile
Nationality	British
Religion	Christianity
Profession	Evangelist, Bible teacher, author and speaker
Famous for	Christianity Explored
Education	Sherborne School, University of Bristol and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
Former role	Senior Minister for Evangelism at All Souls Church
Current role	Co-founder and Evangelist at Christianity Explored Ministries
Wife	Lucy Tice
Children	Peter, Daniel and Mercy
Main interests	Rugby, golf and films

Rico Tice Early Life and Family Background

Richard Ian Tice was born in Chile in 1966. He later became widely known by the name Rico Tice.

He has explained that he was christened Richard, while Rico developed from Ricardo, the Spanish form of Richard. The name also reflects his connection with Chile, where he was born.

His father worked as a businessman, while his mother was a nurse. During his childhood, the family lived in Uganda and Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Growing up across different countries exposed him to different cultures and communities. These early experiences later contributed to his ability to communicate with international audiences.

Education and School Life

Rico Tice attended Sherborne School in Dorset, England. His school years included both sporting opportunities and difficult personal experiences.

During his teenage years, the death of his godfather became a major turning point. His godfather died after falling from a cliff, causing Tice to think deeply about death, eternity and the meaning of life.

A mathematics teacher named Christopher Ash helped him explore Christianity through Bible teaching. Tice later described this period as central to his decision to become a committed Christian.

After school, he spent time working with young people in inner-city Liverpool. He then studied history at the University of Bristol.

University, Rugby and Ministry Training

Sport was an important part of Rico Tice’s university life. He captained the Bristol University rugby team and continued playing rugby during his later theological training.

After university, he served as a lay assistant at Christ Church Clifton in Bristol. He also worked briefly for Hewlett-Packard before entering full-time Christian ministry.

Tice trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. His combination of history studies, church experience and theological training prepared him for a long career in evangelism.

His development as a confident public speaker also came through years of university missions, church events, conferences and direct conversations with people exploring Christianity.

Career Start at All Souls Church

Rico Tice was ordained in the 1990s and joined All Souls Church, Langham Place, in London in 1994.

He arrived during the later years of John Stott’s ministry. Stott was a major evangelical leader whose Bible teaching and global outlook influenced many Christian ministers.

Tice’s main responsibility was evangelism. He worked with people who visited the church with questions about Jesus, faith, the Bible and Christian belief.

He eventually became Senior Minister for Evangelism. His direct speaking style and strong focus on Scripture became important features of his ministry.

Christianity Explored

Rico Tice is most famous for helping develop the Christianity Explored course. The course was created and tested through the ministry of All Souls Church.

Tice worked with Barry Cooper and other contributors to shape the material. The course introduces people to Jesus mainly through the Gospel of Mark.

Its central themes are the identity of Jesus, his mission and his call to follow him. Sessions normally combine a short film, Bible reading and open group discussion.

Christianity Explored later developed into an international ministry. Its resources have been translated into many languages and used by churches, groups and individuals across the world.

Related resources include Life Explored, Hope Explored, Discipleship Explored, Vox and Epic Explorers.

Career Timeline

Year or period	Career event
1966	Born in Chile
Teenage years	Became seriously interested in Christianity
University years	Studied history and captained Bristol University’s rugby team
Early career	Served at Christ Church Clifton and briefly worked for Hewlett-Packard
Early 1990s	Trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
1994	Joined All Souls Church, Langham Place
1990s onward	Helped develop Christianity Explored
2015	Published Honest Evangelism
2016	Life Explored was introduced
2021	Published Faithful Leaders
2022	Hope Explored was launched
2023	Moved into full-time work with Christianity Explored Ministries
2024	Publicly left the Church of England
2026	Continues working as Co-founder and Evangelist

Books Written by Rico Tice

Rico Tice has written and co-written books about evangelism, Christian leadership, Jesus and the meaning of life.

His writing is direct and practical. Instead of presenting evangelism as easy, he openly discusses fear, rejection, social pressure and the courage required to speak about faith.

As a published author, he is best known for books that help Christians explain their beliefs and support people who are exploring Christianity.

Major Books and Resources

Honest Evangelism
Christianity Explored
One Life: What’s It All About?
Capturing God
Faithful Leaders
Finding More
The Real Jesus
A Very Different Christmas
Something Missing?
Hope Explored Handbook

His official biography describes Honest Evangelism as a book designed to equip Christians to share their faith in a world where people may show both interest and hostility toward Jesus.

Honest Evangelism and the Pain Line

One of Rico Tice’s best-known teaching ideas is the “pain line.” This describes the uncomfortable moment when a person changes an ordinary conversation into a discussion about Jesus or personal faith.

Tice teaches that Christians may experience awkwardness, disagreement or rejection when speaking openly about their beliefs. However, he also argues that honest conversations can lead to meaningful questions and positive spiritual change.

His approach does not promise an easy method. Instead, it encourages preparation, prayer, courage, careful listening and respect for the other person.

This honest style separates his work from polished motivational speaking. Like an experienced British writer, he often uses real experiences, humour and human struggles to communicate serious ideas.

Public Beliefs and Ministry Philosophy

Rico Tice follows a conservative evangelical Christian position. His public teaching is strongly centred on the authority of the Bible.

He regularly teaches about the identity of Jesus, sin, forgiveness, the cross, resurrection, judgment, grace and Christian discipleship.

Tice believes Scripture should remain central to evangelism. He argues that Christians do not change people through pressure or personality alone, but by clearly presenting the message of the Bible.

He also places strong importance on the local church. His philosophy is that evangelism should connect people with a Christian community where they can ask questions, study Scripture and build relationships.

Marriage, Wife and Children

Rico Tice married Lucy in December 2008. Their wedding took place at All Souls Church, Langham Place.

Rico and Lucy have three children named Peter, Daniel and Mercy. His family is occasionally mentioned in official biographies, although they generally remain outside public attention.

He has spoken publicly about balancing ministry, leadership and family responsibility. His writing on Christian leadership also stresses the importance of character and faithfulness away from public platforms.

There is no reliable public evidence supporting claims about previous marriages or a public relationship history.

Hobbies, Skills and Interests

Rugby has remained one of Rico Tice’s strongest interests. He played competitively during his education and captained his university rugby team.

He also enjoys playing golf and watching films. These interests appear regularly in his authorised profiles and publisher biographies.

His main professional skills include Bible teaching, public speaking, evangelism training, course development and writing.

He is known for explaining difficult religious subjects in simple language. This ability to act as a clear communicator has helped Christianity Explored reach people from different educational and cultural backgrounds.

Departure From the Church of England

In 2024, Rico Tice publicly announced that he had left the Church of England.

He said his decision was connected to disagreements over the denomination’s direction on prayers and blessings for same-sex couples. Tice believed these changes conflicted with his understanding of biblical teaching.

He described the decision as painful because Anglican life had shaped much of his ministry. However, he believed leaving was necessary to remain consistent with his theological position.

His decision received both support and criticism. Supporters viewed it as an act of conviction, while critics disagreed with his interpretation of sexuality and church policy.

Public Image and Speaking Style

Rico Tice has developed a public image as an energetic, direct and practical evangelist.

His talks frequently combine Bible passages, humour, personal experiences and simple questions. He avoids complicated academic language when speaking to general audiences.

He is respected by supporters for addressing difficult Christian teachings instead of hiding them. His critics may disagree with his conservative positions, especially on sexuality and church doctrine.

Despite these debates, his main public work continues to focus on helping churches explain Christianity clearly and respectfully.

Major Achievements and Influence

Rico Tice’s biggest professional achievement is the development and international growth of Christianity Explored.

The programme has been used in churches, homes, prisons, universities and community groups. Earlier and current versions of its resources have been made available in numerous languages.

He has also trained Christians and church leaders through missions, conferences, books, videos and evangelism events in different countries.

His influence is not based on entertainment awards or celebrity culture. It comes from decades of Bible teaching, published resources and practical church training.

Current Status in 2026

As of June 2026, Rico Tice remains listed as Co-founder and Evangelist at Christianity Explored Ministries.

He continues to speak at Christian conferences, support evangelism training and contribute to Christianity Explored courses and digital resources.

The updated Christianity Explored course includes films, guided discussions, a guest handbook and an app. Tice is one of its presenters and narrators.

His current work shows that his ministry has moved beyond one London church. It now reaches international audiences through courses, books, videos and online teaching.

Interesting Facts About Rico Tice

His birth name is Richard Ian Tice.
He was born in Chile and grew up partly in Africa.
His parents worked in business and nursing.
A teacher named Christopher Ash helped guide his early Christian faith.
He studied history at Bristol University.
He captained his university rugby team.
He briefly worked for Hewlett-Packard.
He joined All Souls Church in 1994.
He helped create Christianity Explored.
His hobbies include rugby, golf and films.
He and Lucy have three children.
He left the Church of England in 2024.

Conclusion

Rico Tice has built a powerful career around Christian evangelism, Bible teaching and honest conversations about faith. From his early years in Chile and Africa to his long ministry in London, his life has been shaped by questions about death, eternity and Jesus.

His biggest contribution is Christianity Explored, a course that has helped people around the world examine Christian belief through the Gospel of Mark.

Through books, conferences, courses and church training, Rico Tice remains an influential evangelical speaker and author. His direct approach continues to attract support, discussion and criticism, but his central message has remained consistent throughout his career.