Kathy Rudolph —
Administrative Assistant
Kathy rules the NHC roost as Pastor Mitch’s secretary
and support to all other staff. Born and raised in Fresno,
California, Kathy was led to New Harvest by the loving hand
of God. She recalls sitting in her pew when Mitch was still
at Northwest Church, over fifty and circumstances in her life
having made it so she must find a job, looking up and being
inspired and moved by the desire to work for both Mitch and
the kind of church family he represents.
Having now been a member of the NHC staff
team for over four years, Kathy feels the privilege of being
granted the opportunity to contribute in this capacity. When
asked about her hopes for New Harvest’s future, she
exclaims “I am hoping thousands will grow deeper in
their relationship with Jesus and thousands will be drawn
to Him who do not know Him yet - because of our NH church
family!” Kathy is a vibrant example of the joy that
comes from knowing God and having faith in the transforming
life that he offers.
kathyrudolph@nhclife.org
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Juli Thornton
— Children's Ministry Program Coordinator
Juli is a mother of three and returning
college student, she is a living, breathing example of her
favorite bible verse, Philippians 4:13, which reads “I
can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Having originally come to New Harvest as a volunteer leader
in Children’s ministry, Juli has since become a great
staff member on the NHC team, and is a dynamic contributor
to the construction of the large extended family that is New
Harvest!
Having grown up a lifetime Fresnan, Juli
is dedicated to fostering the growth of relationships between
the children she cares for and the God which she has come
to know. And her greatest desire for NHC is also a strikingly
simple one: that it would be a safe place for families to
come together, have fun, and be continually surrounded by
God’s faithful and enduring love.
julithornton@nhclife.org
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Heather Hayford
— Nursery Coordinator
Heather Hayford has her heart in the right place when it comes
to her role as Nursery Coordinator here at New
Harvest. And she has plenty of experience with little ones,
being the mother of two beautiful little girls, five year-old Kaycee and eight month-old Madison with her husband, Brian.
As the nursery and toddler coordinator, Heather
understands the value of her work every Sunday in both a spiritual
and a practical sense. She and her other children’s
ministry teammates are not merely responsible for looking
after the New Harvest kids every Sunday morning; Heather also
strives to be the kind of role models her little ones can
learn from. Her hope is that when dropping their kids off
each Sunday, parents will be “assured that we are committed
to not only teaching their children about Christ but living
that example as well.”
heatherhayford@nhclife.org
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Stacy Wood Schindler
— Communications & Administrative Director
As Director of Equipping Ministries at New Harvest, Stacy
is one who understands on a profound level the healing power
that we as Christ followers can possess if only we band together.
Working with volunteers and leaders, both connecting them
to ministry and each other is one way in which Stacy gives
of time and herself in order to advance God’s Kingdom
here on Earth.
She and her husband came to New Harvest with
their daughter, now six, searching for a church they could
claim as their own. Well, they found one in New Harvest, and
they have stayed put ever since Pastor Mitch took them on
his church-planting adventure over four years ago. Stacy feels
humbled to be called upon by God to be a part of NHC in such
an exciting time of its journey, and looks forward to seeing
the change that can come from God and his powerful guidance
in both Clovis and the surrounding communities.
stacyschindler@nhclife.org
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Jeremy Anderson
— Office Assistant
Jeremy is one person who knows and understands the importance
of family. And it is through both her family’s leading
and God’s will that she has come to New Harvest. A proud
mother of three and grandmother of nine, Jeremy spent most
of her adult life in the Monterey Peninsula but recently relocated
to Fresno to be closer to some of her family.
Soon after this relocation, Jeremy joined her family in attending
a church service at New Harvest, and relates “God led
me back and back again.”
Jeremy just recently accepted a full-time
staff support position at New Harvest, her intentions being
to do whatever she can to support those in ministry roles,
to make their responsibilities produce the desired results.
It is no wonder then, that her favorite Bible verse is Romans
8:28, which states that “All things work together for
good for those who love God.” Jeremy is a welcome and
necessary addition to the New Harvest team.
jeremyanderson@nhclife.org
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Jeff Jacobson
— Plant Manager
Jeff is one New Harvest member who defines the word “ambitious.”
A man of many ideas, Jeff serves as the Project Manager at
NHC, and co-leads the New Harvest parenting ministry with
his wife Brenda. Originally from Klamath Falls, Oregon, the
two moved to Fresno and initially attended Northwest Church,
but Jeff recalls that they had trouble with plugging themselves
into their particular community. However, Jeff decided to
heed God’s call to relocate with Pastor Mitch and contribute
his unique skills to the burgeoning church plant called New
Harvest and since then, Jeff has never looked back.
Jeff possesses a strong desire for NHC to
become a “community hub” – a place where
people can come for spiritual guidance, encouragement, or
perhaps just a good meal to be shared among friends. And he
is committed to helping New Harvest evolve into the kind of
place which allows people to explore and discover their passions
and skills in Christ, while leading others into meaningful
relationships with our Lord. With this kind of dedication,
Jeff has proven himself to be both a compelling and competent
instrument of God.
jeffjacobson@nhclife.org
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Mark Ribera
— Music Director
Mark works within NHC’s Creative Arts Department to lead others in a way that propels them toward worship. Mark came, with brother (Pastor) Mitch, to the initial church plant. He was born and raised in Fresno and is now married to the woman God intended for him, Tara. Together they have experienced the sovereignty of God through a prolonged path to having their beautiful sons, Samuel (7) and Ellis (5). Mark loves to play music and spend time with his family.
Mark is continually reminded that we toil for the lost not for the found by Mark 9:13, which states, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” He also reflects on Acts 20:24 regularly which states, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Mark wants his every last breath tell others the grace that God has imparted on him and how God alone has turned his life around.
markribera@nhclife.org
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Craig Von Berg — Instrumental Director
Craig has been playing piano in worship services periodically since NHC’s conception. In 2005 Craig joined the staff as Instrumental Director, working to bring excellence to the worship band. He has also written arrangements for special services, such as Christmas and Easter. Craig plays with a jazz trio and is a professor as CSU, Fresno. Craig’s vision is to cultivate, motivate and equip NCH’s worship team musicians to move beyond their limitations, to see their own crucial part in making the Sunday morning worship experience something worthy of our awesome God. He is also passionate about NCH being anchored in the Word of God and prayer, and also being promoters of healthy family relationships. Craig wants the Sunday experience to inspire, feed and motivate the church body to step out of their Christian “bubble” of safety and comfort.
Craig was born in 1960 in Charles City, Iowa and has lived in Fresno since 1969. He now enjoys life with his wife, Missy, and their daughter, Alexis, whom they have adopted. Craig says, “I am new to the ‘dad’ business, so I am spending lots of time with my daughter.” In 2003, Craig donated a kidney to his father. The church prayed for him and laid hands on he and his father and prayed for them before the surgery. He describes this experience as a time where “the Holy Spirit’s presence” was felt “in such a huge and undeniable way, that is has impacted” his “walk with God fundamentally. Craig recommends meditating on John 3:16 because it, in a nutshell, explains God’s relationship with each one of us. He adds, “Can you think of anyone for whom you would sacrifice your own son or daughter?”
craigvonberg@nhclife.org
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Donna Cooper — Family
and Children's Director
donnacooper@nhclife.org
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Micah Foster — Student Ministries Director
Micah is a man of passion for Jr. High and High School students. He has served as an intern and part-time Youth Minister for several churches in California. Micah grew up a part of God’s community and his family left a legacy of faithfulness. This example made his faith integrate into all pockets of life. Micah attended Alta Sierra Intermediate School, Buchanan High School and Clovis West High School. His wife, Erica attended Clark Intermediate School and Clovis High School. Both Micah and Erica went on to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu, Ca.
Micah received a Bachelors degree in Religion and a minor in Creative Writing. During his time at Pepperdine, Micah enjoyed a summer abroad in Heidelberg, Germany as well as three years in a six-member a cappella singing group. During the school year this group, Won By One, toured California two weekends out of every month. During the summer, the group toured the country for two months.
Summer of 2006 God called Micah and Erica back home to serve the students in
their hometown. Their desire is to give God glory through the work of NHC.
micahfoster@nhclife.org
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Erica Foster — Elementary Coordinator (1st -
6th Grade)
ericafoster@nhclife.org Back to top
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