Rico Sharp

When Rico Sharp talks about transformation, he’s not quoting a leadership book or borrowing a catchy sermon title—he’s speaking from the depths of a life reclaimed by God’s grace. From a homeless 13-year-old addicted to drugs to a pastor, global motivational speaker, and leadership trainer with over three decades of impact, Sharp’s journey is proof that God still writes redemption stories in bold strokes.
“I was anointed in prison,” he says without hesitation. “I was a Jonah in the belly of the whale, Daniel in the lion’s den, the three Hebrew boys in the fire, Paul and Silas in prison. God anointed me there because He wanted me to remember where I came from, to stay close to Him, and to carry that testimony into every place He sends me.”

From the Streets to the Pulpit
Raised by a teenage mother and later rejected from living with his father due to abuse, Sharp found himself living on the streets before he was even old enough to drive. “I was eating out of trash cans,” he recalls. A local drug dealer took him in, introducing him to the same poison that would nearly destroy his life. Arrested 19 times and imprisoned three, Sharp eventually came to the end of himself in a prison cell. It was there that the spark of his calling ignited.
Initially, his ministry began on prison grounds—Bible studies with inmates, prayer requests from correctional officers, conversations with men who had lost all hope. “I was just trying to mind my own business and survive prison,” he says. “But God turned that into a ministry for me.”
Upon release, Sharp hit the streets again—this time to rescue, not to run. Speaking on street corners, in jails, schools, courtrooms, and churches, he became a voice of change for those who thought change was impossible. He and his wife planted a church from their living room that grew to 3,000 members, with worldwide television outreach and transitional housing for the homeless.

Opposition as Preparation
Sharp knows that the path of a changemaker isn’t smooth. “Opposition is what prepared me for acquisition,” he explains. “When you knock on a door and it doesn’t open right away, that’s not God saying ‘no.’ That’s God saying you’re equipped for access.”
He likens it to Jesus crossing the sea to deliver the man possessed by a legion of demons in the region of the Gadarenes—storms and opposition came first, but the miracle waited on the other side. “The enemy knows that when you show up, people will be set free,” Sharp says. “So I’m steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
That perseverance has earned him a reputation. “There’s one thing you need to know about Rico Sharp,” a school principal recently said when introducing him. “He does not quit.”

Living Proof of Change
Sharp’s most significant community impact, he insists, isn’t in what he does but in who he is. “They see the change in me,” he says. “That speaks louder than any sermon. People have told me, ‘Your testimony delivered my child from prison.’ They see that no matter how deep the darkness, God can resurrect you into His light.”
That conviction led him to sign a three-book deal, with the first focusing entirely on God’s transformational power. “It’s not about what I’ve done,” he emphasizes. “It’s about what He has done for me.”

Faith That Gets Results
In recent years, Sharp has endured the crushing loss of 15 family members—including his father and brother—while continuing to lead and inspire others. The grief nearly stopped him in his tracks until he heard “that still small voice” of the Holy Spirit reminding him to step back, process, and be comforted.
“Faith is my center of gravity,” he says. “I’ve even turned it into an acronym—F for faith, A for assurance, T for the, and H for Holy Spirit. My faith is what has kept me steadfast through change, given me the courage to take bold moves, and empowered me to believe for the exceedingly, abundantly above.”

Legacy for Generations
Now in his fifties, Sharp is focused on what he leaves behind: a trail of inspiration and tangible change. His plans include transitional housing, community centers, and rehabilitation facilities that will continue to serve long after he’s gone.
“One of my quotes says, ‘Walk not in the shadows of those you admire, but discover your own passion and dare to aspire. For then you will realize your greatness and live a life that inspires.’ My legacy is about overcoming the odds. No matter the disadvantage or loss, you can rise.”
For Sharp, Bold Moves, Brave Hearts isn’t just a section title—it’s the definition of a life poured out for the Kingdom. “Only what you do for Christ will last,” he says. “I intend to make my life count.”

August 2025: Rico Sharp