Dr. Rich McLaughlin studied at the University of Notre Dame, Moody Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Talbot School of Theology. His PhD research explored the 1995 Wheaton College Revival from theological and educational points of view.

Across his ministry career, Rich has served in the local church, with church planting efforts, as Trinity International University’s (TIU) Director of Student Ministries, as a cross-cultural missionary in Japan, and with TIU Online teaching courses in the Christian Ministries and Leadership Departments In the local church, his roles have been Pastor of Student Ministries and Administration, Pastor of Family and Children’s Ministries, and Executive Interim Minister.

Rich presently serves as Senior Pastor at Lakeside Church of Chicago in Skokie, Illinois, which started with the Japanese-Americans in the Chicago area during World War II. In recent years, Rich has also invested time with the organization called "Lead Like Jesus" (LLJ) and serves as the LLJ Japan National Director. This study cohort focuses on key Heart, Head, Hands, and Habits lessons in the LLJ training materials.