Paul Babcock
Paul Babcock is a man who can truly testify to the saving power of God’s grace, because he has seen and lived through the darkness. Growing up in a non-Christian home where alcohol was frequently abused, Paul was already set to fall into a life fueled by alcohol and crime by the age of twelve. But in 1975, Paul’s mother took him to a service at Northwest Church, and something struck a chord in him. Soon after, he attended Woodlake Ranch Christian Camp where he begun grappling with his own feelings of shame and unworthiness. Put simply, he recalls that “it was made clear to me that there are two places in eternity...Heaven and Hell and Heaven is perfect. No sin may enter. Therefore, Hell was my only reasonable destination. UNLESS... God could love me so much that He would send His only Son to pay for all my sins...” Despite the shock of being presented with such absolutes, Paul was told that if he chose Christ and committed his life to Him, God could and would take care of the rest. He gave his life to Christ that June.
By no means has Paul’s transition been easy; he admits that, much like the apostle Paul, he is often torn between his sinful nature and the new nature God has infused within him. Yet, after all is said and done, Paul is truly a man after God’s own heart; it is his deepest desire to make the most of every opportunity until He comes again.
Jim Jorgensen
James Richard Jorgensen, born in Madera, California in 1935, has undeniably lived a full life. Jim was brought up in the Catholic tradition, and actually met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Laura Mae Sordi while attending catechism classes. Jim went to CSU Fresno and graduated with a degree in Accounting, then served three years in the Air Force, stationed in places as far away as Osan, Korea! After his time in the Air Force he transitioned into a professional career working for a regional C.P.A. firm in Fresno, eventually establishing his own accounting firm in 1979. In the years that followed, Jim and Laura raised four daughters in Fresno and now enjoy fourteen grandchildren.
Both Jim and Laura left the Catholic religion to join family members at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, where they were very active in service and leadership. But, Jim and Laura heeded God’s call to move churches again, and have found their permanent home with New Harvest Church. Both are generous in heart and humble in spirit, relating that they are simply “grateful to God for the opportunity to continue serving.”
Teddy Papulias
Teddy Papulias is a man who is honest about his faith. He relates that, in 1976, when he first became a Christian, he was leading a life of hypocrisy. He studied the Bible, attended Church, and believed God’s word; yet his actions did not match up to these convictions. Teddy was “playing the part,” as he refers to it, claiming to be a Christ follower but in reality not allowing God to transform his heart.
Yet, while listening to Pastor Bufe Karraker preach about true service, not merely “taking up space in the pew” but really getting involved, something in Teddy’s heart switched on, and he began to put the pieces together. Teddy recounts this experience, explaining “Getting involved and serving leads to growth and change. That will lead to blessings and joy. This was a turning point; I was done wandering in the wilderness. Christ had been my Savior, now I made Him Lord.” From then on, church became a priority rather than an obligation, Bible studies an opportunity rather than a burden. Yet according to Teddy, something was still missing- serving as a functioning member of a church body. And so when Mitch announced his plans for New Harvest, Teddy was stunned, but knew immediately that he and his family would be joining Mitch in this transition. For Teddy, this was the perfect time to get involved. He has heeded God’s call, jumped in with both feet and never looked back. Teddy Papulias is living proof of the transformative power of a seeking heart, and an earnest desire to be a reflection of God’s unending grace and love.
Doug Cords
Every endeavor Doug Cords embarks upon in life, he does with passion and zeal. A perfect illustration of this fervor and this commitment to the values he upholds can be seen in his relationship with his wife, Wendy. Married just four months after meeting Wendy, these two have been a dynamic duo, praying together daily, running a successful business together - all this on top of rearing three Christ-focused children!
Doug grew up in Fresno and began his university teaching career at Fresno State in 1969. He and Wendy managed Cords Lumber Company together for three decades, before retiring and liquidating the firm. The Cords' three children, Doug, Jr., Rob and Amy all went away to college and, through God's grace, returned to Fresno to settle. Each is happily married and Doug and Wendy have four grandchildren, to date.
Going forward, Doug took the year 2006 "off" from teaching, to fully devote his energies to the Elder Team of New Harvest Church. He will return to teaching half-time and, of course, will continue serving our church as an Elder-At-Large. He also serves as Secretary of the Rotary Club of Fig Garden, as a consultant to both profit and not-for-profit organizations, and on the California Raisin Marketing Board. He is as well the first "non-farmer" to serve, as Board Advisor, to Sun-Maid Growers of California. To Doug, each of these venues gives the opportunity to be Christ's representative in the marketplace.
Brent King
A child from a home broken up at the age of 7 when his father left his mother for another woman, Brent knows better than most that “whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” After his father’s departure, Brent’s mother struggled to provide for her family of four, working multiple low-income jobs in order to help the family scrape by. Raised in a Christian home, these trials only deepened young Brent’s faith, and strengthened him in his relationship with Jesus Christ, whom young Brent accepted into his heart at age 8. But when his mother remarried in 1976, significantly lightening the family’s financial strain, Brent recalls that his faith began to deteriorate. He recalls that he began disrespecting his mother and stepfather
Upon graduation, Brent moved away to work on construction with his father, a step which laid the way for his introduction in 1985 to Beth, his future wife! She was a student at Fresno State and worked at a diner across the street from where Brent was constructing a motel; the two met, sparks flew, and they quickly entered into a relationship. It was not long after this time that Brent, having gained confidence in his contracting skills, began thinking about leaving his father’s business to pursue both an independent career and a marriage with Beth, but it was actually a verse in the Bible, Genesis 2:24 which stated that “a man shall leave his father and mother and join with his wife and the two shall become one.”
The two were married at Northwest Chapel in 1989, and began attending regularly soon after that. He credits Pastor Bufe Karraker’s emphasis on deepening faith through scripture study classes, however, as the motivation he needed to become more engaged with both God’s Word, and his church community.
Through his studies, Brent has learned the value and the impact of God’s call for us to give of ourselves: our time, our talent and our treasure. Brent reflects that he has been “blessed with a Christian wife, 3 daughters, a growing business with a great staff, and a cool church I am active in.” And in his forty years in this world, Brent has learned that though we may wander, we can never forget that Jesus loves us so much that he never loses faith in us, always longing for our return. And Brent has made it his business to remain home, safe in the loving arms of the one who made him.
Ralph Olson
Among the fourth generation of children to be raised on the very same farm, Ralph Olson knows the value of good stewardship of God’s earth. As a child, Ralph attended church regularly and knew Jesus, but never truly connected with the idea of Christ as his personal savior. Throughout his later high school years and through on until college, Ralph describes himself feeling “far from God,” and rarely attended church. But in his final year of college, he met his soul mate and future wife, Linda Volny. They were married two years later, and the two began attending E V Free Church in Fresno, then transferred a few years later to Northwest Church when they moved to northwest Fresno.
They soon had their first child, a daughter named Mandy, born in 1987, and then Chelsie three years later. In November of 1994, Linda and Ralph were invited to attend a spiritual renewal weekend called Walk to Emmaus; it was that weekend that Ralph decided to rededicate his life to Christ. And since that event, Ralph has made it a priority in his life to serve on and lead different ministry teams and retreats.
Shortly after the death of Reverend Bufe Karraker, the Olsons felt led to plant themselves over at New Harvest Church- and there is no doubt in their minds that this church is where God has called them to be. Crediting Mitch Ribera’s leadership and mentoring in his life, Ralph believes he has learned how to serve in the church, and that God is teaching him to be a leader as well. Excited to be an integral part of such a vibrant and dynamic church, he feels both “humbled and honored to serve” alongside of his brothers and sisters in Christ at New Harvest, and looks to the future with a strong and sincere sense of hope.
Mike Ribera
Mike Ribera is the oldest of three boys all born within 26 months of each other and by the time he was a teenager, his mother having remarried, he was the oldest child in a blended family of 9! He and two younger brothers grew up a trio of competitive athletes, so it is only fitting that Mike accepted Christ as his personal savior in the summer of 1973 at a basketball camp held at Westmont College. Mike recalls his interesting conversion experience here, recounting that a group called the Navigators came and “presented the gospel message in a simple manner using the plates, cups, and silverware as props to illustrate our separation from God because of our sin and how Jesus bridges that gap.” Mike and his brothers committed their lives to Jesus that very same week, and haven’t looked back since.
It was during those very same high school years that Mike also met Frances, the woman who would eventually become his wife. Mike believes that she is the greatest gift that God has blessed him with, relating that “to know Frances is to experience a godly woman who faithfully follows Jesus with all her might.” They have been blessed with two children as well, Michelle and Michael Nathan, and two grandchildren, Ella and Emme.
Mike and his family feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to serve at New Harvest- they have been here since day one, and are continually amazed by what God does and is doing through his faithful servants in this church community. Mike embarked upon his walk of faith with Christ many years ago, but his enthusiasm and his dedication have not waned, as evidenced by the fact that to this day, Mike still exclaims “It is truly an adventure to follow Jesus Christ!”