The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years

In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Fransko to hear a story shaped by transition, perseverance, and learning to trust God through seasons you never would have chosen.Patrick reflects on the challenges of change, finding community in unfamiliar seasons, and the unexpected ways God was working even when life felt uncertain. What began as a difficult chapter eventually became part of a much bigger story of faith, growth, and belonging at Fellowship City Church.Patrick also shares openly about walking through cancer and how that season deepened his dependence on Jesus, reshaped his perspective, and revealed the power of community and faithful relationships. His story is a reminder that God often does His deepest work in the hardest seasons.Now serving as an Elder at Fellowship, Patrick reflects on spiritual leadership, investing in people, and what it means to remain faithful through every chapter of life.This conversation is honest, encouraging, and filled with reminders that even through transition, uncertainty, and difficulty, God’s faithfulness never changes.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Tim and Tiffany Shedden to talk about faith, family, intentional parenting, and the quiet consistency that shapes a home over time.From their own upbringing and faith journeys to raising a family deeply involved in the life of the church, Tim and Tiffany share how small everyday decisions helped create a culture where faith became more than something talked about on Sundays. It's part of their family’s rhythm, relationships, and purpose.Throughout the conversation, they reflect on marriage, parenting, serving together, and what it has been like to watch their children not only love Jesus, but actively lead and serve in ministry themselves. They also share how community and spiritual intentionality have shaped the way they approach both family and church life.This episode is a reminder that raising a family grounded in faith rarely happens through one big moment. More often, it’s built slowly through consistency, conversations, prayer, presence, and a willingness to keep pointing each other back to Jesus.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Candace and Allison to hear a story shaped by faithfulness, obedience, and a deep passion for the next generation.Both began their careers in education. But at different points in their journeys, each sensed God calling them toward something that looked different to the world and turned out to be even greater in impact. What followed were steps of obedience into kids' ministry that would quietly shape the lives of children for years to come.From the moment a child's faith becomes their own, to the steady presence of leaders who show up week after week — their story offers a powerful glimpse into how faith is often formed earlier than we realize. And woven throughout is a deep appreciation for the teams and volunteers who make it all possible. The ones who set up rooms, lead small groups, and pour into kids in ways that rarely get a spotlight but always leave a mark.This conversation is about more than a career transition or a ministry role. It is about saying yes to where God is leading, trusting Him in the process, and discovering that some of the most lasting impact happens in the places most people never see — in classrooms, in hallways, and in small moments that have the power to shape a lifetime.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Gary and Kyra Barnes to hear a story shaped by faithfulness, community, and what it looks like to serve together as a family.After a season of searching, Gary and Kyra share how their journey to the Hudson Campus became about more than finding a church. It became about finding family. From first impressions to meaningful relationships, their story reflects how consistency and care can shape a community.What stands out most is how their entire family stepped into serving together. From set up and tear down to kids ministry and tech, some of the most meaningful impact happens behind the scenes and often side by side.This conversation is about more than volunteering. It is about belonging, building something together, and discovering that serving as a family can shape not only a church, but your home as well.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Ben Good to hear a story shaped by discipline, calling, and what it looks like to live out your faith in everyday life.From his early years in St. Louis to the journey that led him to Fellowship City Church, Ben shares how God has formed his life through consistent rhythms and a commitment to follow Him faithfully. Along the way, his story has grown to include building community through City Social, investing in others, and learning to lead with purpose both in the workplace and in the church.This conversation is about more than leadership or routines. It is about the quiet consistency of a life rooted in Christ, and the way those daily choices can shape not only who we become, but the impact we have on others.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Margo Most and Will Lovell to hear a story shaped by calling, consistency, and the impact of investing in others.From different seasons of life, Margo and Will share how their own stories led them to a burden for youth ministry and a desire to walk with students during some of the most formative years of their lives. They reflect on what drew them to this work, what sustains them, and what it has given in return.From mission trips to everyday moments, their conversation is a reminder that showing up consistently for the next generation is one of the most faithful things a person can do and that impact of love often reaches further than we ever get to see.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Meredith Bennington to hear a story shaped by faith, prayer, and the power of a simple invitation.At a time when life felt heavy, one small act of obedience changed everything. Through an invitation from someone who noticed her in a difficult season, Meredith found her way to Fellowship City Church. What began as a single moment has grown into more than a decade of faith, community, and serving.This conversation is about more than how she came to church. It is about noticing people, responding to God’s prompting, and trusting that even the smallest step of obedience can have a lasting impact.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Joe and Aime McGinnis to hear a story shaped by calling, faithfulness, and a heart for people.From their early years and time at Cedarville to the moments where God began to clarify their calling, Joe and Aime share how their lives have been shaped by learning to recognize and respond to God’s voice.As their journey led them to Fellowship City Church, they reflect on what it looked like to step into new seasons, stay grounded through change, and serve wherever God placed them. Along the way, their heart for missions and their desire to invest in others have continued to grow.This conversation is about more than ministry roles or transitions. It is about trusting God through every season, saying yes when He calls, and living a life that is rooted in faith, family, and service.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Ashley and Brittney Owen to hear a story shaped by faith, friendship, and the way God brings people together.From Ashley’s early years growing up in England to Brittney’s journey through faith and family, their lives were unfolding in completely different places. As part of a week highlighting stories connected to the UK, their paths eventually crossed at Fellowship City Church in a way only God could orchestrate.What began as friends became a story of relationship, challenge, growth, and redemption. Even through uncertainty, distance, and unexpected turns, God was faithfully at work in ways neither of them could have planned.This conversation is about more than how they met. It is about trusting God’s timing, seeing His hand in every season, and believing that He is still bringing people together in ways that shape our faith and our future.

What does faithfulness look like over a lifetime of ministry?In this episode, we sit down with David Oakley, a pastor whose journey spans decades, continents, and seasons he couldn't have mapped out on his own. From his early years in ministry to his time serving at Fellowship City Church, David reflects honestly on the moments that shaped his calling, the decisions that weren't easy, and the unexpected turn that led him back to England to continue pastoring.This is a conversation about what it really looks like to follow God's leading, one step at a time, through the known and the unknown alike.David's story is a reminder that God is always at work beyond what we can see, writing something far bigger than any single place or season. If you've ever wondered what steady, long-haul faithfulness looks like in real life, this one's for you.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Brian Johnson, Worship Pastor at the Chagrin Campus, to hear the story of a life shaped by music, faith, and a passion for leading others in worship.Brian shares how his love for music began, the people who shaped his early faith, and the unexpected turns that took him from the corporate world to a national stage on Season 8 of The Voice. From there, Brian reflects on how God redirected his path toward worship ministry and how a simple invitation to lead worship at Fellowship became a pivotal moment in his journey.This conversation offers a look behind the scenes of a worship leader’s heart, the purpose behind the songs we sing, and how God uses music to build faith, shape community, and draw people closer to Him.As we continue telling the story of Fellowship City Church, this episode reminds us that God uses every season of our lives and often writes a far greater story than we ever expected.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Don and Cindy Morris to hear the story of a life shaped by faithfulness, family, and a deep love for people.From how they met to the seasons that led them into ministry, Don and Cindy reflect on the moments that shaped their calling.Don and Cindy share about their years serving in ministry together and the transition that brought them to Fellowship City Church through the coming together of two church communities—an answer to prayer that reflects the timing and faithfulness of God in a way neither could have planned.This conversation offers a glimpse into what it looks like to trust God through change.

In this episode of The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years, we sit down with Hudson Campus Pastor, Dustin Keele, to hear how God led him into ministry and ultimately to Fellowship City Church.Dustin shares the story behind his calling, the journey that shaped his leadership, and what it took to help launch and establish the Hudson Campus. Along the way, he reflects on the people who helped make it possible, the team that showed up, and the community that continues to shape what Hudson is today.Through both personal moments and behind-the-scenes insight, this conversation highlights how God works through faithful steps over time and through the people who say yes together.As we continue telling the story of Fellowship, this episode reminds us that every campus and every chapter is built on faith, community, and a willingness to step into what God is doing.

In this episode of The First 50, we sit down with Anthony Alioto, Campus Pastor of Fellowship’s Orange Campus, to hear the story behind his journey into ministry and how his life intersected with Fellowship.Anthony shares about his upbringing, his time playing college baseball, and the path that led him to follow God’s call into ministry. We also talk about what it has been like to help lead and build the Orange Campus and the impact God is making through that community.This conversation is a reminder that God often works through ordinary moments and relationships to lead us into something greater than we could have planned.Because behind every chapter of Fellowship, there is a story.And that story is still being written.

The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years continues with a special conversation featuring Valerie Aiken and Delene Kirtland, two women whose lives have been deeply woven into the story of Fellowship City Church.With over 60 years of combined service, Valerie and Delene have become a steady and trusted presence, often seen serving together. Over the years, they have consistently and faithfully cared for the people of Fellowship across generations.In this episode, we reflect on the moments, relationships, and seasons that have defined their journey. Their story highlights a kind of enduring faith that does not always seek the spotlight, but quietly shows up again and again, trusting that God is at work over time.It is a powerful reminder that what God builds through years of faithfulness, service, and obedience becomes a legacy that reaches far beyond what we can see.This is more than a conversation… it is a glimpse into the heart of what has made Fellowship, Fellowship.

In Part 2 of our conversation with founding pastor Lud Golz, we reflect on the ministry, growth, and lasting impact of Fellowship over twenty-five years of leadership.As the church moved from its early beginnings into a permanent home, Lud shares what it was like to see the life of the church take shape through a growing community, a deep commitment to missions, and the steady work of raising up leaders who would carry the vision forward. These years were marked not only by growth, but by a continued dependence on God through both meaningful milestones and unexpected challenges.Lud also reflects on life after his time at Fellowship, the ongoing call to ministry, and the ways he has continued to invest in people and share God’s message in the years since.This conversation is a reminder that the fruit we see today is often the result of years of faithful obedience, quiet leadership, and a willingness to trust God through every season.Because the impact of a life surrendered to God does not end with one chapter.And the story of Fellowship City Church is still being written.

In this episode of The First 50, we sit down with founding pastor Lud Golz to step back into the story before the story.Long before Fellowship Bible Church began, Lud’s journey was already being shaped through his upbringing, his growing sense of calling to ministry, and a deep desire to see the Gospel reach beyond his immediate context and into the world. In this conversation, he shares about those early years, including how he met his wife Muriel, whose partnership played a significant role in both his life and ministry.As the story unfolds, we move toward the moments that led to the launch of Fellowship in 1976, when a group of families stepped out in faith to begin something new. From those first gatherings to the steps that led to the church’s first building, this episode captures the heart, calling, and obedience that laid the foundation for everything that followed.Because before there was a church, there was a calling.And the story of Fellowship City Church is still being written.

As Fellowship City Church celebrates 50 years of ministry, every story on the timeline points to something deeper: the heart and mission that continue to guide the church today.In the first episode of The First 50, Lead Pastor Aaron Tredway reflects on the vision, values, and calling that shape Fellowship City Church.Aaron shares the unexpected journey that led him into ministry, including the moment he gave his life to Christ at 19 and told God he did not want to become a pastor, missionary, or speaker. Yet years later, God led him to Cleveland to shepherd a church with a vision to reach the East Side and impact the world.This conversation sets the foundation for the entire series as we begin capturing the voices, memories, and defining moments that have shaped Fellowship over the past five decades.Because behind every date on the timeline, there is a story.And the story of Fellowship City Church is still being written.

Welcome to The First 50: Fellowship Through the Years.This trailer introduces a new podcast celebrating fifty years of God’s faithfulness through Fellowship City Church. The series captures the voices, memories, and moments that have shaped our church across five decades.New episodes release every Tuesday and Friday beginning March 17.Subscribe now and join us as we preserve the story God is still writing.