Light & Life Christian Fellowship

Staff

Light & Life staff are people who are passionate about Jesus, about LLCF and about our mission as a church.

Each staff person is hired based on a sense of "call" to their position of ministry.

We prioritize hiring a combination of multi-ethnic and gifted individuals. We prioritize hiring from within the body of LLCF when possible.

Currently on our staff we have a combination of Hispanic, Pacific Islander, African American, Filipina, Asian, and Anglos.

Our staff includes former teachers, professional football players, Sr. Pastors, marriage-family counselors, rocket scientists, druggies, and rock band members. It's an interesting and exciting group. Each has made a big sacrifice (usually financially) to serve Jesus as a staff member of LLCF.

All our staff are here to serve YOU so let us know what we can do to assist you.

Visit our staff pages to get to know some of the key staff better.

Larry Walkemeyer

Larry Walkemeyer leads the Light & Life Christian Fellowship in Long Beach, California, a community that started as a small mono-ethnic church and is now a large multi-ethnic, urban church. His 30 years in ministry have included youth ministries, conference speaking, para-church leadership, radio ministry, missions work, pastoral mentoring, and 15 church plant projects (7 of which are in Ethiopia). Azusa Pacific University named Larry one of the most influential students over its one hundred year history. Larry is a frequent speaker to ministry leaders and has started a non-profit organization to assist kingdom work in urban and international places of need.

Deb Walkemeyer

Deb Walkemeyer currently works part time as the interim youth pastor for Fusion Student Ministries at Light & Life. She is a licensed marriage/familiy therapist and an ordained minister. Deb enjoys working with students and their families, helping them discover their unique gifts and strengths, then mobilizing them into service for God. One of Deb’s specialties is working within a team context. The Fusion leadership team shares the leading of our multi-ethnic student ministry

Family Info:
Husband: Larry Walkemeyer, the Lead Pastor….hmmm, I guess there are some perks with that?

Vern Burgess

How did you come to LLCF? I saw Larry at a Pastor’s gathering in the fall of 2006 and he said “Why don’t you come to Long Beach?” I said sure and here we are! Okay there is a little more to the journey, but it is a great God thing.
Read more...

Kristy Hinds

What Active Image is your role at LLCF? Executive Assistant to Dr. Larry Walkemeyer & Director of Fusion Extreme, LLCF's young adult ministry.

What is the best part about your role?
Leading our young adult ministry's summer retreat! I never thought I would enjoy being without a cell phone, or other technology for 5 days in the mountains (I'm a city girl). However, seeing the beauty of God's creation and working with our young adults at Kidder Kreek has been such a blessing! And the White Water Rafting was fun too!

Craig and Mary Durst

Active Image Since 1991 Craig and Mary Durst have been the worship leaders at Light & Life. Craig and Mary are professional jazz musicians who consistently perform as 2AZZ1 at the most prestigous jazz venues in Southern California. Their strong marriage, deep commitment to Christ, disciplined lifestyles, and amazing musicianship form a foundation for a strong worship ministry at LLCF. Their passion for excellence and for letting God move in the midst of our worship has been a powerful force that God has used to do mighty things over the years.

They love their dog, their Harley motorcycles, and their friends.

Liz Tate

What is your role at LLCF?
I oversee anything that involves the kids kinder to 6th grade

Diane Ruhlen

Director of Preschool Ministries

Sarah Tatupu

How did you come to LLCF?

My family (husband & 7 boyz) came to LLCF over 7 years ago by an invitation from my sister Connie and husband Junior Moaalii whom were already attending LLCF. They had shared with us that we needed to "check it out" and the rest was history. Since then til now It has been all good, awsome and an amazing journey...PTL!

Calvin Tatupu

Calvin Tatupu, along with his wife Sarah, take it to the streets of Long Beach! Ministering to boys and girls in the poorest parts of our city through games, crafts, Bible stories, music, and love is their passion. They also minister to the kid's parents and often bring food or other forms of support to the needy. Calvin is a powerful and prophetic minister of God's Word and heart and is a leader in the LLCF prayer ministry.

Richard & Sylvia Martinez

Minister of Norte - Light & Life's Hispanic Ministry