MY  STORY:

Connect Your Story to God’s Story

Your story matters at Compass Church. No matter where you’ve been, you belong here, and your journey is part of God’s bigger story. If you feel moved or want to talk with someone, we’re here for you.

Need prayer or want to connect?

Reach out to us here—we’d love to listen, pray, or answer your questions. There’s a place for you in God’s story.

A Homicide Detective’s Journey of Faith

Hi, my name is Rick Jorgensen, and this is my story—a journey through the darkest corners of life and into the light of faith.

Ever since I was young, I dreamed of serving in law enforcement. That dream became real in 1988, when I joined the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department. My early years on the force were busy, and at home, my wife and I were blessed with two beautiful daughters. But beneath the surface, we faced struggles that eventually led to divorce—a painful chapter that left its mark on my heart.

My career took me deep into the world’s brokenness. After six years, I became a detective, starting out in Narcotics and working undercover for about eight years. I even spent time in the sex crimes unit, investigating terrible offenses against children—cases that haunt you long after they’re closed. Eventually, I was assigned to homicide, spending eight more years investigating some of the most difficult and heartbreaking crimes imaginable. I’ve seen firsthand that true evil exists—evil so deep that the only explanation is that the devil was at work.

Those years left scars I carried with me, even after I retired in 2018.

Life moved on. I remarried in 2003—a longtime friend became my wife, and together we built a new life. Church was a distant memory for me. Things seemed good, and I honestly didn’t see a reason to go back.

But then, everything changed. My wife found a lump in her breast, and soon after, we heard the words no one wants to hear: breast cancer. It was like a punch in the gut. I promised to walk beside her, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. We needed something more—someone bigger than us.

Then, in February 2023, while running errands, I felt a nudge that I can only describe as God’s voice. Driving down South Main Street, I suddenly knew I needed to go to church again. I turned into the Compass Church parking lot and walked in. It was my first time back in church in about twenty years.

From that day, I kept coming back. When my wife started chemo and radiation, our Compass family surrounded us with prayer. I truly believe that hundreds of people were lifting her up. Through every treatment, God gave us strength. And then, just last month, we got the news we’d been praying for: she was officially cancer-free. That was a day of pure gratitude and relief.

Wanting to grow deeper, I asked about small groups after a Sunday service. By Tuesday, I was at my first Bible study—welcomed in, encouraged, and reminded that I wasn’t alone. Getting involved in church has changed everything for me.

If you’re reading this and wondering if there’s hope, or if God can reach you no matter where you’ve been—let me tell you, there is, and He can. I’ve seen the worst of humanity, but I’ve also seen the power of prayer, the strength of community, and the faithfulness of God.

Don’t wait. Get involved. Let your story become part of God’s story. No matter what you’ve faced, there’s hope, there’s healing, and there’s a place for you here.