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Church Staff
Rev. Dr. Ken J. Walden became our Senior Pastor in July 2009. He received his Bachelor’s degree from The Citadel, a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke University Divinity School, a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation, and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology with an emphasis in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Claremont School of Theology. He is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and a United States Air Force Chaplain Major Reservist serving at March Air Reserve Base. Dr. Walden’s pastoral experience includes pastoring in the North Carolina Annual Conference, Detroit Annual Conference, and currently in the California Pacific Annual Conference. He is the author of “A Pastor’s Poetry: Volume One”, which includes a foreword by Bishop William Willimon. Dr. Walden has also contributed a text entitled "Training" located in "Reveille for the Soul: Prayers for Military Life" edited by Marge Fenelon. Feel free to view his curriculum vitae/ resume.
Pastor Ken's work has been featured in various publications such as North Carolina's The Herald Sun newspaper with an article entitled "How Churches Can Help Military Families". Feel fee to view one of his lectures, Plenary Session 3 entitled "Down But Not Out: Supporting Military Couples" given at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Walden lives with his lovely wife, Michelle, in Southern California.
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 Our Pastor of Spiritual Direction, Rev. Ted HamptonContact: tedhampton@charter.net
Pastor Ted Hampton was born and raised in rural western Pennsylvania. He attended Otterbein College in Ohio where he received his B.A. in History, English, and Greek. After college, he attended United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he received his M. Div. He has done some post-graduate work in Clinical Hypnotherapy. Ordained an Elder in the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1962, Pastor Hampton's first parish assignment was to a 3-point Charge in Eastern Colorado. Pastor Hampton was Senior Pastor at the Pioneer Memorial UMC; Monrovia UMC; and Dominguez UMC. In addition to his Parish assignments, Pastor Hampton spent several years in Panama, where he taught English to the Guardia National, followed by several years directing a federally funded program for 'acting out and drug abusing teens' in Long Beach, Ca. In 2009 Pastor Hampton graciously decided to join the Lakewood First United Methodist Church leadership team. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Our Director of Music, Jackie BeeryContact: jackie_beery@yahoo.com
Jackie Beery has enjoyed a life long love of God and music. She has always known one of her spiritual gifts to be the gift of service and music has always been a natural means for her to live out this gift. Jackie received her Bachelor's in Music from California State University, Long Beach where she met her husband, David Beery. She has worked as a choir director, vocalist, pan player and handbell ringer in many churches all around Southern California including Lakewood First UMC, Mesa Verde UMC, Belmont Heights UMC, Dominguez UMC, California Heights UMC, Glendale First UMC and South Pasadena Friends Church. In addition to her work with local church choirs, Jackie is also an accomplished and recorded vocalist and steel drum (pan) player. While performing with the Pandemonium Steel Drum band, she has performed as a pannist with the Long Beach POPS!, the Buffalo Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, and the Albuquerque Symphony. She is a past member of the Manhattan Beach Master Chorale and Long Beach's South Coast Chorale where she served as chorale member, soloist, and section leader. Jackie can be heard on Pandemonium's "We Come Out To Play" CD and Steel Tropic's "Christmas Paradise" CD. Jackie lives in Lakewood with her very musical family. Her daughters, Darcy and Josie sing regularly in church, school and all around the house and play their own custom made pans. Her husband, David, is a renowned steel drum builder, tuner, composer, arranger and performer. He is owner of Smarty Pans Music in Lakewood, Ca. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Our Director of Student Ministries and Young Adults, Linda WarrenContact: nuttycats@msn.com Linda was born and raised in New Jersey, and moved to So. Cal. temporarily in 1977, but liked it here so much she never left. She received a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach, in 2001, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in 2003, and has been teaching first grade in Paramount Unified School District since 2003. Linda was formerly on staff at LFUMC from March of 1995 through July of 2004 as Church School Coordinator, overseeing Elementary Christian Education, directing Vacation Bible School, and the children’s drama programs. A love for the Lord, and for youth are the inspiration for this new venture, about which she is very excited. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I come to LFUMC with over 20 years of Office Administration. With experience in warehousing, phone administration, accounts payables, purchasing, meeting facilitation and facilities management. I hold certificates in Secretarial Support from California State University, Long Beach and Human Resource Management and Advanced Human Resource Management from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Prior to joining the Office Team, I worked for the corporate office of a Fortune 500 company, an aftermarket automobile testing corporation and a law firm. I am an active member in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). As a member of the Disciples Women Commission I am an Area Rep and the Co-chair of Communications. I am pursuing my Certificate of Ministry Studies (CMS) from the Disciples Seminary Foundation in Claremont in a cooperative effort with the Pacific School of Religion in Berkley. I am widowed and in Norwalk with my three cats, Boxer, Suri and Little Bit. If you ever have the opportunity to stop by the office, please say hello.
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. I graduated from my beloved Vashon High School. I was married in Long Beach, California. My husband and I have two children that consist of a daughter and a son. I am the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren that consist of four boys and four girls. I am a dedicated childcare attendant during the Sunday worship service. I just adore children.  Our Organist / Accompanist Hani YangHani Yang has received a Bachelor of Music & Master of Music from the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary (Korea) as well as a Master of Music from Westerminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ) and a Graduate Certificate from the University of Southern California. She has performed at the Presbyterian College & Theological Seminary, Korea, Trinity Center, Korea, Anh-Dong Church, Victoria Hall, Geneva Switzerland and the New York Cho-Dae Church, New York. She also has worked for the Myung-Sung Prebyterian Church, Seoul Women’s University, Presbyterian College & Theological Seminary, Korea and New York Cho-Dae Church, New York. Hani & her husband live locally in Torrance, CA with their two young children.
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Working for Sorensen & Associates, Diane has dutifully kept our church financial records for over seven years arriving at the church office once a week.
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Contact: blakeperson@verizon.net Blake is a student at California State University at Long Beach.
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Our Senior Pastor, 
