Rich Hansen
Senior Pastor
rich@firstpresvisalia.org

Rich is a transplanted “Cornhusker,” growing up on the plains of Nebraska not far from the Oregon Trail. He has followed that trail westward through his ministry, beginning in 1980 as an Associate Pastor in Greenville, PA, handling youth and small groups. Rich moved to become Senior Pastor of Palos Park Presbyterian Community Church in suburban Chicago in 1984. His westward journey continued as he accepted the call to become Senior Pastor of First Pres Visalia in January 1988.

Marilyn and Rich met while students at Iowa State University; they were married soon after graduating in 1974. God’s greatest gifts along the cross-country journey have been Nathan (born in Pennsylvania in 1982), Megan (born in Illinois in 1984) and Lauren (born in Visalia in 1989).

Rich sees his primary calling to equip others for ministry using his gifts in preaching and leadership, so the whole Body of Christ grows healthy and mature. He has three earned theological degrees: Master of Divinity (Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN), Master of Theology in historical theology (Princeton Theological Seminary) and Doctor of Ministry (Fuller Theological Seminary).

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