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.