FPC Conversations

In today’s episode, you get to meet Josh and Sarah Ibanez. They joined Jamie Franklin and Dan Kimball for a conversation about how they met and sought the Lord as a young couple while also pursuing careers in medicine. You’ll enjoy hearing how they see their faith intersecting with the medical field. Josh and Sarah share about the season of life they are experiencing and how they are listening for...

In today’s episode, you will meet and hear from Kent and Kristi Robison. They joined Dan Kimball and Jamie Franklin for a conversation about how they met, their own personal redemption stories, living fully for the Lord in their everyday lives, and how they have learned boldness in their faith. Kent and Kristi also share honestly about their current season of life experiencing and how they listen...

In today’s episode, you will get to know the story of Marty and Joanie Martin. Dan Kimball and Jamie Franklin sat down with the Martins for an engaging conversation about how they both separately began serving in Southeast Asia, how the Lord brought them together later in life and how they began to seek the Lord in a deep call to invest in people. Marty and Joanie also listened to God’s call in th...

In today’s episode, you are going to meet Patsy Cooper, who has made a huge impact on hundreds of students and adults over the years through her volunteer work and deep passion for skits and dramas in church programs. Patsy joined Dan Kimball for a conversation about how she came to faith, her love for making the bible come alive through skits, keeping her faith alive at 90, miracles, and navigati...

In today’s episode, you are going to meet Brady Lee, who is a relatively new face at First Pres. Brady joined Dan Kimball and Jamie Franklin for a conversation about his faith walk, meeting his wife Katie, pickleball, his call to become a chaplain, how he fell in love with magic tricks when he was young, and how he turned that love into a career. Please enjoy hearing Brady’s story and getting to k...

In today’s episode, you will meet Debbie Fletcher, who has been a part of FPC for many years, beginning with her involvement in the Seekers college ministry in the late 1960s. Since that time, she and her late husband, Jim, have served faithfully at FPC through their gifts of hospitality, mentoring, and deep investment of time, talent, and treasure to people of all ages and stages.  Debbie joined...

Each summer at First Pres, we hire a group of college-aged students who have the opportunity to explore God’s call to Christ-like leadership through community participation, prayer, studying Scripture, and hands-on learning experiences by serving in our Christian Education department. In today’s episode, you are going to meet the 2026 Summer Staffers. This group of 6 young adults are fun to be wit...

Last episode, # 67, we heard from Sarah Tacchino, who serves as an intern with the Coalition for Christian Outreach here at First Pres. This week is part two of learning more about the young people who are ministering to college students through the CCO. In this conversation, you’ll meet three young adults who all came to Fresno to be a part of the CCO Ministry Apprentice Program. Mkayy Bangura ,...

In 2017, FPC Fresno entered into a partnership with the Coalition for Christian Outreach, better known as the CCO. Since that time, First Pres has been blessed to watch numerous college-age students grow in their walk with Jesus through Programs, gatherings, outreach events, and the annual Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear from one of these young adults, Sarah...

In today’s conversation, you get to listen to the conversation Craig and Kathy Hartsell had with Dan Kimball. They share more about their faith backgrounds, how they met, their call to serve in the church, parenthood, and the lessons they are continuing to learn together as they grow in their faith. We hope you enjoy getting to know Craig and Kathy in this episode.

In today’s episode, you will meet Melanie Franz, who has been a part of FPC for most of her life. She has blessed many people of all ages and stages by serving in a variety of ministries throughout the years. Melanie and her husband Jim have faithfully followed their call to build deep relationships with people and share their love for Jesus in their daily lives. Melanie joined Dan Kimball for a c...

In this episode, we’re getting to know Brad Stevens, who has been a faithful behind-the-scenes servant in our community for several years.  Brad sat down with Dan Kimball for a conversation about his career as a police officer in Fresno; mentors who have influenced his faith, both as a cop and in life; and how he wanted to “stay in the game” post-retirement.  Brad talks about why he is excited abo...

In today’s episode, you get to meet Dave and Kim Peltola. They joined Jamie Franklin and Dan Kimball for a fun and uplifting conversation about how they met, sought the Lord as newlyweds, the connections that pointed them to FPC, and how they have obeyed the Lord’s call for them to serve behind the scenes. Dave and Kim also share honestly about the new season of life they are experiencing and list...

In today’s episode, you are going to get to know our Minister of Congregational Care, Jamie Mack, and her husband, Randy, two people who are partners in family, ministry, and life. They share about how they met, their commitment to the Lord’s call in their lives, and their passion for creating community and building relationships with people in the neighborhoods they have lived. The Macks have qui...

In November 2025, First Pres sent a team of 32 Men of different ages and stages from Fresno to Tijuana, where they partnered with Doxa, a house-building Ministry in Mexico. During this 4-day trip, the team was tasked to build three houses for families in need, as well as being exposed to what God is currently doing in this area through this ministry. In today's episode, Dan Kimball and Jamie F...

Joshua and Kim Salven sit down with Dan and Suzanne Kimball to talk about the unique way the Lord brought them together, some of their own challenges before they met, and their call to service and careers. The Salvens have a deep faith and share about their passions, kids, and following God's call in their relationship and careers. I am confident you’re going to enjoy getting to know Joshua an...

In this episode, you’ll get to know Koby Johns, who has been a part of the First Pres community for many years. Koby joined Dan Kimball for an engaging conversation about his call to ministry, how the lord led him to become a firefighter, and how he has navigated some faith challenges. Koby talks honestly about what brings him joy in this season of life. Enjoy today's conversation with Koby Jo...

In this conversation, you will meet Ethan Andrews, one of the First Pres young adults. Ethan joined Dan Kimball and Jamie Franklin for a conversation about moving to Fresno for work, how he found First Pres and made it his church home, his joy in meeting and interacting with people, how he has made a health diagnosis an opportunity, and his involvement in launching the young adult ministry at FPC....

In this episode, you will meet Dianne McKneely, a woman with a heart of service and a prayer warrior. Dianne and her husband, Jerry have been a part of First Pres for several years, and Dianne has faithfully followed her call to prayer ministry and obedience, sharing how the Lord speaks to her and through her to others. Dianne joins Dan Kimball & Jamie Franklin for a conversation about being a...

In today’s episode, you will meet two global workers who have blended their careers as doctors with their profound love for Jesus. Dan Kimball and Jamie Franklin were able to catch up with them during a visit in Fresno. You’ll hear about their faith background, call to the medical field, and their journey to move across the globe to share the love of God.

Randy joined Dan Kimball for a conversation about how he continues to live into God’s calling in this season of his life, navigating the sudden loss of a best friend, and about his new novel, Consummation.

In this week's episode, you will get to know Scott and Wendy Norvell. Scott and Wendi sat down with Dan Kimball and Jamie Franklin to discuss their faith backgrounds, how they met, their call to serve in the church, the things they are passionate about, and the lessons they are learning together about grief, loss, and how God is currently stirring in them. I think you are going to enjoy gettin...

In today’s episode, you are going to meet the 2025 Summer Staffers. This group of 6 young adults has made a huge impact on our ministries and families at First Pres. Dan Kimball sat down with the summer staff for a conversation about their own faith stories, how they were called to serving at FPC, things they learned through the program, and how they are each growing in their walk with the Lord. W...

In today’s episode, you will meet Forest and Lynnese Castle, who joined Jamie Franklin and Dan Kimball for an uplifting conversation about how they met, sought the Lord as a young couple, listened to God’s call in their professional and personal lives, as well as their commitment to sharing God’s love along the way. The Castles have a huge heart for sharing Jesus with others and loving their neigh...

This week, in our 51st episode, you get to hear from a true behind-the-scenes servant, Ataloa Woodin. For the past 11 years, Ataloa has been serving as the Administrator to the pastors at FPC, and recently she has moved into the position of the Business Director. Ataloa not only has some incredible insights on working behind the scenes at FPC, but she also has served in a pastor role for some loca...