50 Years Ordained Ministry

 

Winston E. Culp

Licensed 1970 l Ordained 1973

Winston was born in the San Fernando Valley. The family regularly listened to Billy Graham, and Winston gave his heart to Jesus at six years old. When Winston was ten, the family moved to a 100-acre dairy farm in Yreka. Winston attended Bethany College in the early ’60s. Rev. David Wilkerson was speaking in chapel. Rev. Wilkerson said to him, “Son, come down here. You’re the reason I’m here.” Winston encourages himself by remembering that day and God’s call. Winston and Sharon pastored in Hayfork from 1969 – 1975. The Lord healed Winston’s back during a “Gifts of the Spirit” service. Other pastorates include Cotati Assembly of God (1975-1976), British Columbia, Canada (1977-1978), and Church in the Wildwood in Forbestown, CA (1992-2010). Winston’s care of the facilities drew the community in. Winston also cared for Sharon for over 20 years – something he did without complaint or regret. After 45 years of marriage, Sharon passed away in 2010. Winston moved to Oregon. There he reconnected with a high school friend, Linda. They married in 2013. Today, at 81, Winston and Linda pastor Church of the Wildwood in Grand Ronde, OR. He loves to teach and help people. Winston has two children and six grandchildren.  

Gerald L Cunningham

Licensed 1969 l Ordained 1973

Gerald (Gerry) was born to a Christian family in Hutchinson, KS, and raised in Chico, CA. Gerry said yes to God's call at Mount Lassen Camp. He was sixteen. He met Gloria in High School and she said, "yes" to his proposal! There were married in 1958 at the age of seventeen. Gloria was Gerry's love and partner in ministry for 62 years. While attending Bethany (1968-1970), Gerry pastored First Assembly of God in San Leandro. Gerry and Gloria served in several churches and ministered as an evangelist. Gerry served at Pleasant Valley Assembly of God in Chico (Gerry's aunt was the pastor), pastored Riverbank Assembly of God (1972-1976), and Firebaugh Assembly of God (1985-1988). He pastored Ripon Assembly of God (Ripona Christian Fellowship). Ripona had experienced large pastoral turnovers but the Cunninghams broke that cycle! During their 28 years of ministry, the church grew, Gerry remodeled the building, and members are now in the ministry. While Pastoring Ripona, he served on the Central San Joaquin Section Sectional Leadership Committee for sixteen years. Gerry retired to Lodi, where Gloria passed away shortly after in 2016. Gerry loves the book of Romans. He is proud of his family legacy – three adult children, thirteen grandchildren, and sixteen (and counting) great-grandchildren.

Calvin R Davis

Licensed 1967 l Ordained 1973

Calvin was born in Yoncalla, Oregon in 1927. He attended Glad Tidings Bible Institute in 1944. After marriage to Corene, he moved back to Oregon, where they spent many years of ministry. He received his License to Preach and served in four churches in the Oregon District: Bly Assembly of God, (1967-1970), Berean Assembly of God in Springfield (1970-1982), New Hope Assembly of God in Vale (1982-1984), and Bethel Church in Pendleton (1985-1991). He also served as the Sectional Men’s Representative and Missions Representative. Calvin relocated to San Juan Bautista and transferred to the Northern California Nevada District in 1992. He served in Hollister until 1997. In 2012, Calvin joined Pastor Bill Clements at Antelope Christian Center. Calvin’s sweet wife, Corene, passed away March 15, 2022. Pastor Clements describes Calvin as a mighty Pentecostal warrior of our faith! Calvin’s four children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild would agree.

Rudolph C Grecco

Licensed 1955 l Ordained 1973

Rudolph (Rudy) was born and raised in New York and gave his life to Jesus at sixteen. Rudy met Leonora (Lee) at Eastern Bible Institute (Valley Forge Christian College). They got married in 1954. At twenty-one years old, Rudy was the lead pastor at Assembly of God in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Rudy and Lee spent several years of ministry in Florida before transferring to the NCN District in 1969. Everyone in the Grecco family plays instruments and sings. They used their gifts everywhere Rudy served, including DeAnza Bible Church in Cupertino and Bethel Temple in Hayward. The Greccos pastored First Assembly of God in Tracy (1975-1985) and First Assembly of God in Placerville (1985-1994). Rudy’s passion for rural churches grew. In 1994, Rudy and Lee bought a motorhome and traveled throughout NCN District and the US, mentoring and encouraging young pastors and their churches. Rudy describes this as their best ten years of ministry! Today, Rudy lives in Las Vegas and serves as interim pastor in Overton at eighty-nine years old! His son leads worship. On October 10, 2022, Rudy lost his precious wife of 68 years. Rudy’s very proud of their three children, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Gilbert J Pries

Licensed 1971 l Ordained 1973

Gilbert (Gil) was born in Melrose Park, IL. He was born premature and only weighed 2 pounds 8 ounces. The doctors placed him in an incubator and filled it with pure oxygen. Too much oxygen caused him to go completely blind. At four years old, the family moved to CA to avoid Gil being institutionalized. In 1968, Gil gave his heart to the Lord while listening to the "Unshackled" program on the radio. He was studying to be a priest when his Spiritual Director led him in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Gil attended Loyola University, Bellarmine University, and Bethany. Much of Gil’s ministry was in Southern California and Colorado, serving as an Evangelist and with the Royal Rangers (Gil’s passion!) Gil was the first blind person to go through the National Royal Ranger Training. To be a Buckskin Frontiersman, Gil had to complete the archery and tomahawk skills. He did so by aiming at the sound of his target. Amazing! Gil transferred to NCN in 1998. He served at Green Valley Christian Center in Henderson NV in evangelism and the Royal Ranger program. Gil currently serves at Boulder City AG, where he started Royal Rangers. Gil never allowed blindness to be a hindrance. He even recorded an album entitled, "I Am A Friend" in 1973. Gil played several instruments and wrote five of the songs.

Ronald L Richardson

Licensed 1969 l Ordained 1973

Ronald (Ron) was born in Santa Monica, CA. Ron was five years old when he responded to his dad’s altar call at the Pentecostal Church of God in Taft (his dad was the pastor.) Later, his parents pioneered an AG church in North Long Beach. Ron was eleven when God called him to be a pastor. Excitedly, he preached his first sermon the following Sunday. He claims it was a disaster! But he pressed on and improved his preaching. Ron married Mary Ann and they began ministry together. Ron served as Youth Pastor and Worship Director in Southern CA and in Watsonville and Salinas. He was the Assistant Pastor in Morgan Hill before pastoring in Kerman. He served thirty-one years as Senior Pastor in Kerman, Atwater, and in Oregon. In 1998, he created a law enforcement chaplaincy program for public schools in Central California. In 2002, Ron was appointed AGUS Missionary - Law Enforcement Chaplain. Ron is a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and a Fellow at the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Ron has trained nearly 1500 people between Law Enforcement and Crisis Intervention training and impacted innumerable lives. Ron lives in Smyrna, DE. Mary Ann passed in 2019. Ron has one son, one in Heaven, and three grandchildren.

Cecil M Robeck, Jr

Licensed 1970 l Ordained 1973

Cecil (Mel) was born in San Jose, CA. His parents, grandparents, and great-uncles were A/G pastors. The family planted about 40 churches. Mel always knew Jesus. However, his dad wanted to make sure and led Mel in the sinner's prayer, on the platform, during a Sunday night service. Mel was five. Mel loved the church but didn't want to pastor. When teaching the 5th-grade boy's Sunday School class a parent mentioned his gifting in teaching the Bible. Those words struck like lightning! Mel attended San Jose City College (A.A.), Bethany Bible College (B.S.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (MDiv, Ph.D.). Mel served as an Adjunct Instructor of Religion at Southern California College (Vanguard) and began forty-eight years of service at Fuller Theological Seminary: He started in Administration, then teaching Bible and Theology, he became a tenured professor of Church History, and Associate Dean of the School of Theology.  Mel currently serves as a Senior Professor of Church History and Ecumenics. Mel has a unique calling within the Ecumenical Movement. He served as the Co-Chair for the Pentecostal-Catholic Dialogue. He has worked with Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. Mel has been to 61 countries, preached in three cathedrals, and the memorial service for Pope John Paul II. For thirty years, Mel has represented Pentecostals in the Annual Meeting of the Secretaries of Christian World Communions. In 2013, NCN District appointed Mel as General Liaison to Christian Communities. In 2014, the General Council followed suit and appointed him Liason to Christian Communities on behalf of the General Council. Patsy, Mel's wife of 54 years, his four sons, and nine grandchildren have witnessed his faithful service!