Carl Rider went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 13th, 2026. He was married to his beloved wife, Cindy, for 56 adventure-filled years.
Carl was born on January 5, 1947, to Florence Grace and Merle W. Rider in Peoria, Illinois. He graduated from Arkansas City High School, Arkansas City, KS, in 1965. He graduated from Baylor University, Waco, TX, in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and minors in History and English. He then received a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1977.
As a young boy, Carl made the decision to accept Jesus, God’s Son, as his personal Savior. At 18, he heard and accepted Christ’s call to share the wonderful news of Jesus as a minister. The message he shared was that God so loved each person that Jesus came to die on a cross paying for the sins of all. Since that sacrifice, anyone, everyone can receive the guarantee of eternity in God’s heaven through faith in Jesus.
Carl began his ministry in 1967 as Youth Minister and Associate Pastor of Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Robinson, TX, while still attending Baylor University. After graduation, Carl pastored churches in Texas, Kansas, and Colorado, including First Baptist Church, Reagan, TX; Coolidge Baptist Church, Coolidge, TX; First Southern Baptist Church, Eudora, KS; Mississippi Avenue Baptist Church, Aurora, CO; Blue Ridge Baptist Church, Blue River, CO; Princeton Baptist Church, Princeton, TX; and First Southern Baptist Church, Arkansas City, KS. He served first as Minister to Single Adults and later as Minister of Pastoral Care and Associate Pastor at Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, TX. Carl and his wife, Cindy, also served as board-appointed missionaries with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in pioneer areas of the Colorado mountains. After retiring, Carl continued to teach Bible studies and Sunday School as well as serve as an interim pastor at Linn Valley Baptist Church, Linn Valley, KS. Carl’s ministry spanned 58 years.
Along with snow skiing and golfing, Carl enjoyed traveling with his wife to the Caribbean, England, Scotland, Wales, Rome, Venice, Greece, Split Croatia, Germany, and his favorite, Israel, twice. He also made multiple mission trips to China and Grenada, stopping in Malaysia and Barbados along the way.
Carl was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother, Jack, and his sister, Kathleen. Carl is survived by his wife, Cindy; son Matthew Rider, daughter-in-law Jill; daughter Stephanie Kearbey, son-in-law Doug; grandson Bradley Rider and his wife, Abbey, and great granddaughters Charlotte and Delilah; grandson Brandon Rider; granddaughter Ashtyn Kearbey; granddaughter Hayley Rider; brother Charles Lyle and his wife, Linda; brother Gale Rider and his wife, Shirleyne; sister Raeauna Garnett-Sharrai and her husband, Rich; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at Lenexa Baptist Church, 15320 West 87th Street, Lenexa, KS 66219. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 am.
Carl asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Lenexa Baptist Church Missions or Compassion International.