Rev. Dan Hutchinson, M.Div., Interim Senior Pastor
Daniel Hutchinson is a third-generation pastor. He grew up in Edmonds, Washington, just outside of Seattle. He graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in History in 2007 and an MA in Historical and Systematic Theology in 2008. Following graduate school, Daniel served for two years as a youth ministry intern at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle before attending Princeton Theological Seminary for his MDiv. After a brief stint back at UPC as their Interim Director of Middle School Ministry, Daniel came to Tulsa in 2013 to serve at First Church as the pastor over Next Generation Ministries.
Shortly after moving to Tulsa, Daniel met his wife Hanna, and after a long friendship, they were married in 2017. In 2020, they welcomed their son Edmund into the world, and the day after Christmas 2022, they welcomed twin daughters, Elanor and Rosewyn.
Daniel is honored to be called as the interim senior pastor during this season. He loves this church and is passionate about pointing people to Jesus Christ and equipping the saints for the ministry. Having a background in next generation ministry, Daniel is also excited about fostering intergenerational life together.
Along with the work of the church, Daniel loves spending time with his family, reading (especially The Lord of the Rings), good coffee, running, backpacking, ultimate frisbee, ping pong, and sitting down to talk theology with anyone who is interested.
Rev. Wambugu Gachungi, M.Div., Associate Pastor
Born and raised in Kenya, Wambugu Gachungi came to the United States in 2001 to pursue a faith-based higher education, graduating from the University of the Ozarks in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in philosophy, religion and sociology. He then moved to Tulsa where he attended Phillips Theological Seminary and obtained his Master of Divinity in 2011.
Wambugu’s primary role at First Presbyterian Church is fostering the community of faith known as Tulsa International Fellowship, or TIF. Wambugu leads worship, Bible studies, outreach, and offers pastoral counseling with disciples from over 12 nations. He has a passion for seeing the global Church coming together regardless of where its members reside.
In his ministry, Wambugu is also very interested in the reformed tradition, and hopes to make it accessible to 21st-century Christians as he continues to investigate what a true community of God might look like.
Wambugu loves spending time with his wife and two children.
Rev. James Estes, M.Div., Associate Pastor
James was born in Fort Worth, TX and raised in Claremore from the age of four, where he graduated from Claremore Christian High School. Following high school, he earned an associate degree from Rogers State University before completing a two-year ministry internship at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 2005, James graduated from Langston University's Tulsa campus with his bachelor's degree in psychology. During his first job out of college, James was introduced to First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa at the invitation of then middle school director, Jaclyn Miles. He volunteered with Pathfinders, the middle school ministry, and became a member of FPC that year.
James graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. After completing this, he moved to Seattle to persuade Lindsey to marry him. In August 2013, James returned to Tulsa in answer to the call to serve as an associate pastor at First Church.
James has had the opportunity to take mission trips to various countries including Mexico, China, the Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nepal, Ethiopia, Holland, Kenya and Costa Rica. "I enjoy serving as the mission pastor because mission is the lifeblood of the Church.”
In future ministry James is excited to continue developing missional partnerships with fellow followers of Christ that cross cultural, ethnic, racial, denominational and national boundaries until the unity of Christ's one holy catholic and apostolic Church becomes an observable reality. "There is good work to be done around the world and around the corner."
James has been married to his wife, Lindsey, since 2012. Together they parent four beautiful children. With four children, life at home is always an adventure. James enjoys reading, music and being outdoors, whether backpacking, camping, gardening, hunting or taking the kids to the zoo or a neighborhood splash pad.
Rev. Julia Metcalf, Associate Pastor
Julia Metcalf is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary where she received a Master of Divinity in 2020. During her time at PTSem, she had the privilege of serving for a year at The American Church in Paris, FR as the pastoral intern for Youth and Young Adults along with several other field education opportunities in children's ministry and hospital chaplaincy.
Julia was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and studied vocal performance as an undergraduate at Belmont University in Nashville where she graduated in 2015. Her gratitude to the Lord for bringing her back to First Church to serve alongside this wonderful expression of the Body of Christ is overflowing, and she is thrilled to continue to deepen the beautiful relationships she has developed here over the years as we all seek to love and serve the Lord together. She is deeply grateful and honored to serve as the second female pastor in First Church’s history.
Julia is very interested in the spiritual disciplines and how they can enrich our faith journeys, as well as what personal relationship with Jesus Christ looks like for both young and old. Julia serves on the board of directors of Camp Loughridge and serves as a mentor to the Oklahoma Student Leadership Forum.
She loves her two kittens, Louis and Luna. She is an avid walker, baker and movie watcher, and hopes to one day be a master gardener!