Staff & Leadership

Peter Olson,

Transition Pastor

Pastor Peter Olson serves as an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is serving a season of ministry with us. He brings over a decade of pastoral experience in congregational and synod-wide leadership, with a deep passion for helping people discover they are not alone and that God’s grace meets them where they are in life. [Read More...]

Kristyn Yerger,

Church Administrator

Kristyn is excited to be a part of this church community that values connection, faith and service. She is beyond grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow and be supported by everyone in the congregation. Her background is in legal and real estate. She enjoys creating a welcoming and organized environment where both members and staff feel heard and supported. [Read More...]

Manny Quiles,

Finance Administrator

Manny was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Penn State University. He moved to Cushing, Oklahoma in 2009 and has an extensive career in Restaurants and Hospitality. At home, he shares life with his beloved wife of 15 years and their Chihuahua. [Read More...]

Elijah Ankrom,

Coordinator of Children's and Youth Ministry

Elijah (He/Him) is the Coordinator of Children's and Youth ministry. Before working at FPC, Elijah spent five years in Christian camping at both Dwight Mission in Vian, Oklahoma and Glacier Presbytery Camp in Lakeside, Montana. In 2021 Elijah joined the Youth Ministry team as a Youth Ministry Assistant. [Read More...]

Kate Wells,

Director of the Presbyterian Preschool

After serving eight years in the United States Air Force, she taught elementary school in Michigan before her family’s journey led them to Oklahoma. It was at Presbyterian Preschool that she found a home and a ministry. Kate is passionate about play-based learning and believes childhood is something to be protected, celebrated, and never rushed. [Read More...]

Mallory Kizer,

Communications Assistant

Mallory has recently graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's in Strategic Communications. She is currently pursuing a master's in Mass Communications from OSU as well. With an interest in advertising, branding, and graphic design, she is grateful for the opportunity to use her skills to bring light to the congregation's work. [Read More...]

Cathy Fairbanks,

Church Treasurer

Cathy is the Treasurer of First Presbyterian Church - a volunteer position she has filled since 2020. The Treasurer's main job is oversight: ensuring that giving is recorded properly, bills are paid on time & correctly; and employees are paid appropriately. If you have any questions about church finances, please contact her. Cathy has been a member of FPC since 1974 and served as the Church Administrator from 2004 to 2016. In their spare time she and Steve enjoy spending time with their family and traveling to U. S. National Parks. 

Rev. Dr. B. Gordon Edwards,

Pastor Emeritus

Rebecca te Velde,

Organist & Director of Music Emerita

Becky retired in September of 2024 after serving 33 years as Organist and 10 years as Dir. of Music. She is a fourth-generation organist, composer and teacher, a published composer of organ and choral music, and co-editor and contributor for the nine-volume series Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists. She continues to perform and compose and, with her husband John (retired Professor of German at OSU), enjoys visiting her son Brent, also a director of music/organist in Richmond, VA, and her daughter Vera, a behavioral economist at the U of Queensland, and five grandchildren.