STAFF

PASTOR'S OFFICE

Rev. Lina Thompson
Pastor / Teaching Elder

Lina’s favorite part of being Pastor at Lake B:
“We talk a lot around here about what the ‘Gospel Fully Alive’ looks like. We believe it means that we are willing to take risks, engaging tough conversations, giving lots of grace, growing in our love for God through worship and service, and making sure that we are centering God’s heart for those who are most marginalized in our community – particularly the voice of young people.”
Other things to note:
Lina is a long-time resident of White Center, and proud graduate of Evergreen HS and Washington state University and received her Masters of Divinity from Fuller Seminary.

lina.thompson@lbpc.org

Shearl Cornelius
(She/Her)
Office/Property Manager

The friendly voice you hear when you call our Lake Burien church office belongs to our amazing Office and Property Manager, Shearl Cornelius. Shearl brings her value of hard work, creativity and sense of humor to our front office and seems to make genuine connections with everyone who crosses her path. Shearl has over 20 years of office management experience working for construction companies and other small businesses.
Other things to note:
Shearl has had a few unique work experiences over the years. Most curious to people are the 8 years she spent working on the oil fields “the Slope” in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. She was also a 9-1-1 operator and on the Emergency Team as an EMT first responder. No wonder she's our resident "go-to" person whenever someone has a question. We love Shearl!

office@lbpc.org

Travis Brown
(He/Him)
Operations Director

Travis was born and raised in the Seattle area and has worked in a variety of industries such as banking, human resources, and was self-employed two different times, owning a coffee shop and then a restaurant/bar. He currently works as the Director of Operations for Lake Burien Presbyterian Church and enjoys focusing his energy and skills working in the non-profit industry.
He has his Bachelors’ degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix and has received his Master Training & Coaching Certification through ASTD. He is the Co-Founder and current Board VP of the YES Foundation of White Center, and also serves as the Board Treasurer for UTOPIA Washington.
Travis is also proud to be one of the founding members of the Umpqua Bank Pride Associate Resource Group and served as the Communications manager for 3 years before stepping out of leadership to participate as a member in the group.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his husband, experiencing new things, and spending time with friends and family, but prefers to spend as much time sipping a beverage on a beach in the sun.

travisbrown@lbpc.org

Rev. Paul Kim
Parish Associate

Paul is native to Seattle. In addition to pastoring congregations in Seattle, he has pastored congregations in New Jersey and Michigan. Outside of the local church he was briefly a chaplain, worked for a theological school in California, and currently works for Seattle Pacific University.
As Parish Associate, Paul assists in areas of leadership and preaching. He and his family love sharing life at “Lake B” as we all live into the Gospel fully alive.

Crescencio Suarez
Facilities Assistant

crescenciosuarez@lbpc.org

WORSHIP ARTS

Crystal Hairston
Director of Worship Arts

"I love the Pacific Northwest and am daily reminded of the beauty of God's handiwork as I take in the mountains, lakes and greenery all around. I always grew up with the understanding that our ability to express creatively through art and music comes from God, the master artist and ultimate Creator. What better way to offer gratitude for these gifts and honor to God than through the use of arts as expressions of worship and a platform to share God's message of redemption, justice, love and hope. At Lake B, we acknowledge our diversity of expressions are all deeply rooted in a common love for God and a desire to make room for all of our voices (and gifts) at God's bountiful table!"
Crystal is native to the NW and has enjoyed a career in music ministry & education spanning over the last 20 years. She joined the LBPC family in 2015 and became Director of Worship Arts in 2018.

crystalhairston@lbpc.org

Benji Demps
A/V Producer and Engineer

benjidemps@lbpc.org

Poi Lakalaka
Assistant AV Technician

Education & Discipleship

Michael Won
Youth Director

Michael moved to Seattle from Colorado Springs in 2012. He has worked closely with middle schoolers, high schoolers, and undergraduate college students for the past 7 years in various settings. Michael believes in the voices of young people and strives to help all students realize their own wisdom, brilliance, and capacity to be leaders in their respective communities. He is committed to teaching, preaching, and embodying a gospel that centers the experiences of those who exist on the margins of our communities.
Michael loves to play the guitar and drums, and often spends his free time practicing or playing with various groups in the Seattle area.

michaelwon@lbpc.org

Theari Leng
Pivot Leadership

Theari has been attending Lake B since the Spring of 2013. She was invited by the amazing Ms. Margo to attend service where her sister was the associate pastor. She hasn't left since.

"Outside of Sunday service, there have been and continues to be a lot of leadership development work happening at Lake B surrounding radical love and justice work. I have been blessed by this community through the mentors and peers I've connected with and have grown to love and learn alongside."

thearialeng@gmail.com

Puao Savusa
Pivot Leadership

Brandon Glimsdahl
Pivot Leadership

Brandon has been a part of Lake B for the past 2.5 years and has enjoyed every minute of it. Brandon is an avid outdoorsman and loves to ride his motorcycle, bicycle, or anything with two wheels!

"It’s been an amazing place to come and meet new folk along with developing my faith. I hope to see you around Lake B, please come say hello!"

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Margo Fanene
After-School Program Director

What our children have to say about Ms. Margo:
“Ms. Margo does a lot. She gives us food, teaches us, gives life-lessons, takes us to fun places, she cares for us and loves us. She keeps us safe and that’s why we love her and are grateful to have her. She is the program director.”

Margo Fanene , fondly referred to as Ms. Margo, brings to Lake Burien over 30 years of ministry experience with children and youth. She has an undeniable, tireless passion to help young people grow in their understanding and love of Jesus. She firmly believes that children are theologians and they see God in unique and profound ways – ways that go beyond just being “cute” but actually bring needed perspective, humility, transparency, and honesty to the rest of us! We need children to be active participants in the life and ministry of the Church… and Ms. Margo is helping us to do that!

margofanene@lbpc.org

Trish Leaupepe
After-School Program Assistant

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and moved to California when I was 2. I spent 16 years in Cali before I moved to Burien, Wa in 2005. I spent most of my years in the southern king county area (Kent, Federal Way) and currently reside in White Center.
I have a BA in youth development and have been working with youth since 2009. I've worked with a wide range of youth from different backgrounds. I've worked as a youth pastor with at risk youth in Oakland California, I was an instructional aide working in the special education department at a middle school in Alameda California, I worked as a after school program lead with the Burien community center at Sylvester Middle School, and a family liaison at Bow Lake Elementary in Seatac, Wa. I am now the after school assistant with Ms. Margo and enjoying everything about working with the students in our community.
I enjoy spending time with family doing things like karaoke. One of my favorite things to do is travel the world with my husband, learning new cultures and embarking new adventures together.

assistantafterschool@lbpc.org