Joel first came to Hungary in 2013 on a short-term mission trip. It was there he met Eszti, and they were married in 2014. After a long season of waiting, Joel and Eszti served in college ministry together at First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas before attending seminary. Joel graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in 2022, and then they moved to Birmingham, Alabama to serve in the mission’s department at Briarwood Presbyterian Church. It was here they were affirmed in their desire to go on mission, and they developed their passion for church planting and church revitalisation.

Joel and Eszti feel called by the Lord to serve in Győr, Hungary. Győr is the city where Joel and Eszti met. It’s the city where they both fell in love with ministry, and it’s a city that they’ve kept in their prayers. They have come to learn that Győr needs pastors, teachers, and leaders for the Church. They’ve also seen the variety of ways the Lord has prepared them for such a task.

Joel and Eszti feel led by the Lord to serve His Church in Győr for a variety of reasons. First, they have a heart for Hungarians. Eszti is a Hungarian by nationality, and Joel married into a shared love for the country and the people. They are aware that many churches in Győr are without pastors or leaders, and struggle to serve the community. They also have seen that there is a need for disciple-making, and for building up the next generation of leaders, specifically young men who can take on leadership roles. There is also a need for church revitalization – a ministry that they are passionate about.

The Richards desire to establish a confessionally reformed evangelical church that is connected to Hungarian history, and is committed to equipping and reproducing worshippers of God.

Joel and Eszti have four children: Charlie (3/1/18), Rose (1/3/20), Sophie (8/11/21), and Liam (8/5/23)