Dick A. Montanez Jr. is a local pastor at the Church of God, Seventh-Day in Sioux Falls, SD, and a certified crisis counselor with the American Association of Suicidology, and the Director of Crisis Compass Mininstries. A trained hospital chaplain and 988 crisis-line responder, he holds a B.A. from Pacific Union College, an M.S. in Chaplaincy from Loma Linda University, and five units of CPE at the VA Medical Center. Through his work, he equips churches to become sanctuaries of hope in times of crisis. He lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Susan, and their three dogs, and enjoys fishing, gaming, and gardening.