I came to pastor First Presbyterian Church in August 1997, and since that time I feel that I’ve found a treasure in this congregation. I am happily married to my best friend, Mary. We have three daughters Sarah, Hannah, and Leah and all of us love Alaska, its great outdoors, and beautiful people. I am an active person and love to play racquetball, ride my mountain bike, ski, run or do just about anything in the great outdoors.

First Presbyterian Church is a wonderful, warm, diverse, and generous gathering of people. We are seeking to be fully open to God’s presence in all of its power and beauty, believing that what we know and experience today of God is but a taste of what God will pour into our lives as we grow in grace. As a church we hunger to know God more fully and to make God known. We are a people who have received so much from God. As a result we want to reflect the abundant goodness of God by living lives of generosity, grace, and welcome. This is what we seek to do as a people at First Presbyterian Church.

People who come to FPC can expect to find warm welcome, moving worship, biblical and practical preaching, and an environment of healing and compassion. We expect lives to be touched by the love of God in Christ Jesus.

As a congregation we are committed to engaging each other and the world with God’s tangible love. We are committed to compassionate service to the poor, and we are committed to growing up into the heart, mind, and ways of Jesus. We believe God has placed us here to make a difference for his kingdom as we serve the poor, the hurting, the spiritual seekers and those who long to deepen their faith. We believe that God has called us to be his radiant witnesses and to equip others to become the same. Toward this end we also believe that a living and growing relationship with Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit is vital for our lives.

Our vision is to offer our people and this whole community a place of welcome, healing, growth and nurture in the way of Christ.

If you are looking for a place to seek God, nurture your faith, celebrate God’s goodness, and grow as a follower of Jesus Christ then FPC may well be the place for you. You will find this to be a place where people are celebrating, healing, discovering, serving, and growing in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I invite you to become a part of the family at First Presbyterian Church.

Yours in God’s awesome love,

Andy Ekblad, Pastor