Randy RiggsRandy is a native Californian who was raised in communities on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. He never imagined living in Central PA, but he has fallen in love with the City of Lancaster and its surrounding country side. He came to Lancaster in June of 1996, and he has been actively involved in bettering the quality of life in the city ever since. He lives on the west end of the city on Mary Street, with his wife, Cherie. He goes to Central Market every Friday or Saturday, is an avid Barnstormers baseball fan, a season subscriber to the Fulton, is a regular attendee of the Symphony and Academy of Music Concerts, and celebrates the presence of the visual and performing arts in the city.
Randy is a graduate of University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A. in History), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.). His doctoral dissertation was entitled: Preparing Couples for Marriage as a Covenant Commitment: a Program of Clergy/Lay Cooperation. Cherie and Randy met while they were both students at Princeton (Cherie has her M.A. in Christian Education). They have been married since 1970 and have two grown children: Holly and Tim. They also have two granddaughters, Emma and Nya, in whom they delight.
First Presbyterian is the fourth church which Randy has served. The others were: Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families at the United Church of Fayetteville, New York (a suburb of Syracuse); Associate Pastor of Parish Life at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon; Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Jenkintown, PA (a suburb of Philadelphia).
Little known facts about our pastor: he has completed four 26.2 mile marathons, plays (and occasionally wins) racquetball at the YMCA, and he still loves to go to the movies almost every week with his wife.
You may reach Randy at randy@fpclanc.org
Don Hackett
Don came to Lancaster from Bethlehem (Pa) where he had been pastor for youth Ministries at First Presbyterian Church since 1983. Though a military dependent who has lived in seven different states and two foreign countries, Don considers Pennsylvania his home. After graduating from Penn State, he attended Princeton Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Later, in 1997, he received his Doctor of Divinity degree from Fuller.
Don's personal mission is to help people understand, trust fully and grow completely in their relationship with the God revealed in Jesus the Christ - through creative communication, practical training and authentic living. He describes his style as "warm, informal, vulnerable and direct." He has a special passion to reach and "disciple" young adults who are presently not connected to Christ or His community.
Don and his wife, Rila, have three young children (Ian, Brynn and Colin) and enjoy walking, reading, travel, music and connecting with friends.
You can reach Don at don@fpclanc.org
