Neighborhood Blogs

Both Brent and Jeff grew up at the First Baptist Church of Lakewood in Long Beach, CA.  They both went through the children’s and youth ministry.  They both “cut their teeth” in ministry as interns at Lakewood 15 years ago.  Brent’s father was the Pastor of Worship for almost 20 years through the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Jeff’s father currently serves as the Pastor of Community Life at Lakewood.  Both of them have many friends and ministry partners that are still involved in that area, ministering to the greater Long Beach area and beyond.

First Baptist Lakewood just celebrated (in November of 2007) their 60th anniversary of ministry.  The physical site of Lakewood is very similar to that of Neighborhood – big buildings that boast of amazing ministry through the years.  After a church split in 1990, Lakewood went from being a “powerhouse” ministry in Long Beach (about 3000 attending) to a ministry that has struggled to find its pace again.  Currently, there are about 400-500 people that attend Lakewood.  

The church had Brent and Jeff come back for their anniversary Sunday in November, having Jeff lead worship and Brent preach the Word.  It was there that God galvanized a desire that has been on both of their hearts for many years to consider returning and being a part of leading in the next season of Lakewood’s ministry.  After much prayer and careful consideration of the amazing potential and opportunity to help lead their home church, Brent and Jeff have accepted the positions of Lead Pastor and Worship and Arts Pastor (respectively) and will begin their new ministry posts July 1, 2008.


Main Sanctuary, First Baptist Church of Lakewood.

[Brent]  “Lakewood has meant so much to my family through the years.  Growing up there, I have so many amazing memories at that place.  Accepting Jesus into my life, being baptized, starting off in ministry under my mentors/youth pastors, Dave Friese and Alan Hamilton, my wife and I were married there, and on and on it goes.  It was always a church with a lot of impact.  When I was younger, my dad led worship every week while overseeing 18 choirs and orchestras that ministered at Lakewood.  In fact, I almost took a position at Lakewood in 2001 instead of coming here to Neighborhood.  I’ve been so thankful to the Lord that He turned my heart towards the Bay Area back then, as He’s given both Jeff and I a picture of health that we have longed to see at our own home church.”  

[Jeff] “I agree with that.  It’s so clear to me that God has not only allowed me the privilege to have led an amazing music and arts team at Neighborhood for the past four years but has actually prepared me to now breathe into and build up the music and arts ministry at Lakewood. It’s a nostalgic trip remembering as a kid being led in worship by Brent’s dad, Bruce, and the strength of the music program back then.  And now, by God’s grace, I hope to see the music and arts program and more importantly this wonderful church turn around and I’m excited to see what God will accomplish.  I’m also genuinely excited to see what God has in store for Neighborhood.  Change can be difficult but it can also be a catalyst for new growth.”

[Brent]  “Jeff and I have spoken a number of times about what it would look like to take full tanks of ministry back to Lakewood.  As Jeff said, we often find ourselves enjoying the impact of the ministries in which we serve, yet longing for that same impact to be felt in and among our hometown crowd at Lakewood.  After searching out God’s wills for both of our families lives, Jeff and I decided to enter into a formal candidating process with Lakewood. The results were a 98% ‘yes’ vote at a recent congregational meeting.

It’s been hard for both of us to think about leaving Neighborhood as so many important and valuable relationships have been forged here.  Also, the ministry that God has allowed us to serve in has been overwhelmingly amazing.  With all that in mind, it has been anything but an ‘easy’ call. But, in the end, we are both very excited about what the future holds for our families and the families of Lakewood, as well as those yet to give their hearts to Christ and start attending Lakewood.”

[Jeff]  “There seems to be a groundswell of excitement that is surging to have two ‘sons of Lakewood’ come home to serve in key leadership positions.  Our families, friends, and a committed faithful remnant are poised and ready to charge into a new season of ministry and we are humbled to see God’s hand in all of this.”

Both Jeff and Brent are excited to take on their new posts of ministry.  They have been very grateful to have shared the last several years of ministry with their teams and everyone who calls Neighborhood Church “home”.  It is with a sense of exhilaration and humility that they follow the Lord’s leading back down to Southern California and look forward to many great years of ministry together (along with the other staff and attenders at Lakewood).    Please continue to pray for Jeff and Brent, and their families, as they endeavor into this next amazing season of ministry that is now before them!