| Welcome | Our Beliefs | Location | Staff | Baptism | Knowing Jesus |
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| Senior Pastor | |
Mike Ladra mike@fpcsalinas.org |
Pastor Mike has been Senior Pastor of FPC for 16 years. He has a B.A. from Stanford University in Philosophy and Honors Humanities (literature), a Masters of Divinity from Princeton Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Seminary in Mission and Church Growth. He has done further study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem (biblical archeology, Judaism, and the early church), at University of Edinburgh (independent study), and at Oxford University (literature). Mike intended to become an attorney, but through Young Life, met Jesus and committed his life to Him. Through his experience of leading a Young Life Club while a student at Stanford, he heard the call of the Lord to ministry. He wrote the law schools which had accepted him as a student, and requested a one-year delay while he tested this call; after only a few weeks in graduate school, he knew Jesus had claimed his life for the pastorate and he pursued his theological studies. Upon graduating from Princeton, he became Associate Pastor of evangelism and youth at Park Blvd Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California; then the national Director of the Men's and Single's ministries of Bible Study Fellowship for 2 years; the Senior Pastor of Corona Presbyterian Church in Denver for 10 years, and then Senior Pastor of FPC for the last 14 years. He has a special interest in Mission, currently serving on the board of trustees of The Outreach Foundation which funds evangelical mission around the world. Susie and he have 2 children, and enjoy sailing together and leading tours to the Holy Land, which is always a deeply transforming experience. His hobbies are music, working on his home, golf (sometimes), and reading classic literature. |
FPC Staff |
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Daryle Bush Daryle@fpcsalinas.orgExecutive Pastor |
Daryle Bush, our new Executive Pastor. Daryle is a CPA by training and rose to a very high level of management. He then sensed a call to ministry while a member of a large church in Houston. He graduated from Princeton Seminary with a degree in theology, served 4 years as the Pastor of Congregational Care in another large church, and then for the last 3 years has been a solo pastor in small church where he demonstrated vision and leadership in transforming it into a purpose-driven congregation much like FPC. All of us on staff are very excited for him to join us in ministry. He is married to a strong Christian woman, Ann, and has 3 children |
Raquel Doolittle Raquel@fpcsalinas.orgDirector of Spanish Translation Ministry and Assistant In Children Ministry |
Raquel was born in Costa Rica and moved with her family to the U.S. when she was just 3 years old. She grew up in L.A. and became a Christian in junior high at Arcadia Presbyterian Church. Since then God has used her love for Him and for the church to help others come to know Christ. She enjoys using her ability to speak Spanish to reach more for Him. She has led several short term mission trips to Mexico and Costa Rica, specifically aimed at touching kid’s lives. She now sees how her love for kids and the Spanish language is being used to it’s fullest at FPC where she gets to direct VIP Kids and the translation of bible studies and sermons. She took the opportunity to travel two years with Youth with A Mission after high school and graduated with a B.A. in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Greek and Hebrew from L.I.F.E. Pacific College. Both Raquel and her husband Josh have loved the community they have found at FPC, they couldn't’t ask for a better church family. Together they enjoy mountain biking, hosting dinners in their home, spending time with their nieces and watching their favorite T.V. show: “The Office.” |
John Griffing John@fpcsalinas.org |
John comes to us from Houston, Texas, where for years he pursued music ministry and a business career simultaneously. As God began to lead John into full-time ministry, He also put together the sequence of events that resulted in John's joining us here at FPC. John's been using his musical gifts to honor the Lord since receiving Christ at the age of 15. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Belmont University in Nashville , TN , and he greatly values the performance and studio experience he gained in his " Nashville years." After graduation, John spent several more years in professional music before moving to Houston to begin his business career and raise a family. John's wife, Esther, and their two sons , John and Jacob, are enjoying their new life in California , and have found that they don't miss the Texas heat all that much. They do wonder, though, why they keep getting strange looks when they say "Y'all". |
Ryan Hunzie ryan@fpcsalinas.org |
Ryan started attending FPC with his family and has "grown up" in the church. As a youth he was active in the high school youth group and toured with the youth choir. Ryan worked at KKMC radio station as a board operator and in production for several years, but the years spent in youth ministries had an impact on him and he knew that he wanted to be in some sort of full time ministry. Ryan was brought on to FPC's staff to begin production of the Seeds For Life radio program and to expand AV support for the church's Sunday services as well as the youth outreach programs. He has been responsible for bringing FPC up to and keeping FPC on the cutting edge of technology. He has implemented and is responsible for creating the slide presentations that have enhanced Sunday Morning worship. The great video clips that we see during FPC Live are also his creations. He still produces the daily Seeds For Life radio broadcast that reaches thousands of listeners and television show. |
Taj Hussain taj@fpcsalinas.orgFamily Life Minister |
Taj became a Christian as an adult here at FPC in 1998. He had no idea of the plans God had for him when he moved to Salinas. Since then he has served as an elder, worked with the high school program, volunteered as Executive Director, served on the Personnel Committee, and led a men’s Bible study group. Taj has a B.S. in Environmental Design from U.C. Davis and a Masters Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary. After college graduation, Taj worked for three years in architecture, followed by 14 years in pharmaceutical sales. How can a guy with this kind of background become a minister? The answer is an undeniable call from God. Taj recently left his career of pharmaceutical sales to pursue his passion of service to the Lord. Taj met his wife Kristi on the U.C. Davis swim team and now considers her to be his ministry teammate. They have two boys and enjoy snow skiing, trips to the lake, taking walks together, and Little League baseball games. |
Vern Netzly vern@fpcsalinas.orgSeniors Ministry |
Vern Netzly joined the FPC staff in 1995. He received a B.A. Liberal Arts degree in 1953 with a major in chemistry from The College of Wooster, a Presbyterian college located in Wooster, Ohio and he completed one year of graduate study at Ohio State University. Following college he served two years in the U.S. Army.
He had a very rewarding career of almost forty years as a corporate officer and director with The J. M. Smucker Company. After retiring from corporate life, he formed Netzly Consulting Company and did management consulting work with Smucker's and a few other firms. Vern feels that his forty years in the corporate arena was God's way of preparing him for what he now does at FPC. His philosophy is that you should never stop serving the Lord as long as He gives you health and ability. Furthermore, he feels that serving the Lord adds a dimension of purpose, meaning and fulfillment to one's life that can be obtained in no other way. Vern married his high school sweetheart, Em, and they will complete fifty-three years of marriage in June of 2005. They have four grown children, three daughters and one son, and they enjoy helping their five grandchildren grow up. In addition to their family devotion, they enjoy traveling, working on their home and garden, reading and just simply enjoying life. |
Joel Parkins joel@fpcsalinas.org
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Joel Parkins has been the director of high school ministry at FPC for over nine years, and after twenty-two years in youth ministry he still has a great passion for students. Joel has a bachelor's degree from California Baptist College and recently completed his Master's in Christian Education from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married with two teen-age daughters. He enjoys sports and reading. |
Cris Rury cris@fpcsalinas.org
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Cris Rury has been the middle school director for over five years now. He has started ministry since 16 years old preaching in local churches and youth groups. He is a little crazy but has a passion for middle school students because they are the future leaders of America. Cris graduated from Word of Life Bible institute and has a Bachelor's degree from Liberty University in Religion with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. He is currently working on his Masters degree through Liberty University's External degree program. He is married to a beautiful wife Jacey and has three children, 2 girls and a boy. Cris hopes to be like Joel Parkins some day. |
Linda Seldomridge linda@fpcsalinas.org
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Linda has been on staff at FPC for 15 1/2 years. She has 2 teaching credentials from the University of the Pacific (U.O.P.), a Multiple-Subject Credential with bilingual (Spanish) emphasis and a Single-Subject Credential in the areas of English, E.S.L. and Spanish. From U.O.P. she also has a certificate in Inter-American Studies. She did her 5th year for her credentials at San Jose State University. She also has her Junior College Credential in the area of E.S.L.. Linda was a public school teacher for 7 years. She taught 1st and 2nd grades and was also a Bilingual Resource teacher. She has taught parenting classes and E.S.L. at the Salinas Adult School and at Hartnell College. Linda and Steve have 2 children. Her favorite thing to do in her free time is travel and hang out with her family! |
Support staff: Leticia Lopez Garces - Director of Childcare David Landis - Director of Graphic Art and Assistant to AV Director |
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