Staff and Elders

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Staff and Elders

At LCGS, we are a “volunteer-driven, staff-led, elder-protected” church.

Elder-Protected
At LCGS, our elders oversee the congregation by setting the “goal lines,” or guardrails, to protect the body while empowering the staff to implement the vision.

Staff-Led
Organizational and operational functions are delegated to the staff and directed by the lead pastor.

Volunteer-Driven
We depend heavily on volunteers and want to see everyone involved in some capacity in our church. We believe this is one of the best ways for you to get connected with others in the church family.

Staff

Ebassa Berhanu

Lead Pastor

Ebassa Berhanu

Lead Pastor

Ebassa joined the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd as Lead Pastor in September 2022. His theological perspective is moderate and orthodox, believing that the Old and New Testaments are the inspired, inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and the ultimate authority in matters to which they speak. His mission is to ignite a passion for the glory of God in all aspects of life, bringing joy to people through Jesus Christ. As Lead Pastor, Ebassa is tasked with providing pastoral leadership for the staff, board of elders, and congregation of the church, enabling them to fulfill its mission and maintain its DNA. He sees the Torrance area as a mission field, intent on seeing everyone come to know and love Jesus and each other through a real, meaningful community.
In his spare time, Ebassa enjoys running, reading, watching films, and spending time with his wife and five lively children.

Email:pastorebassa@lcgs.net

Greg House

Executive Pastor

Greg House

Executive Pastor

Greg House came to Good Shepherd from Lansing, Michigan. He and his wife, Kate, moved to the Los Angeles area to be close to her family who still live in the Glendale area where Kate was raised. Greg & Kate have been married since August of 2005 and have spent much of their time in ministry together. They make up the Duo “The Asking” and have released original music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and wherever you find music (theaskingband.com). Greg has been working in various ministry roles since 2004 and graduated with a Master of Divinity from Moody Theological Seminary in 2018. He has led worship and students in each of his roles since completing his undergraduate work at Central Michigan University. When not at church or performing with “The Asking” you can find Greg on a golf course. A favorite verse for Greg is Isaiah 40:31, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Email:greghouse@lcgs.net

Kristen Anwandter

Children's Ministry Director

Kristen Anwandter

Children's Ministry Director

Kristen has been part of the Good Shepherd Staff since 2005, first as an office assistant, then as the Communications Coordinator, and now as the Children’s Ministry Director. She is excited that her training and experience as an elementary and preschool teacher is being put to good use. She has attended worship here since 2004 when she married her husband, Carlos. Together they enjoy raising their three children and spending time together as a family.

Email:kristena@lcgs.net

Rafael Gessey

Director of Operations

Rafael Gessey

Director of Operations

Rafael has been a member at Good Shepherd since 2001. She joined our staff in 2007 and serves as our Director of Operations. During her time at Good Shepherd, Rafael has played a key role in our Neighbor-to-Neighbor partnership and volunteered in Vacation Bible School as well as various other ministries. She is a blessing to have on our team.

Email:rafael@lcgs.net

Daniel Welch

Student Ministry Coordinator

Daniel Welch

Student Ministry Coordinator

Daniel was baptized at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in 1991. He and his family have been regular attendees ever since. For as long as he can remember, his life has been deeply influenced by a firm belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He confirmed his faith at age thirteen. In 2016 he became a husband and father. This ignited his passion for Christ in a new way. He enrolled at Grand Canyon University in 2019 and is currently working on his B.A. in Christian Studies. He is eager for new opportunities to serve and excited for what the future has in store.

Email:daniel@lcgs.net

La Nelle Lucero

Administrative Assistant

La Nelle Lucero

Administrative Assistant

La Nelle has also been a member of LCGS since 1998 and she joined our team in February 2017 as the Office Assistant. La Nelle has been married to her husband Samuel Lucero for twenty-six years and they have three children, Tyler, Mason, and Angelina. Outside of work, La Nelle loves to read and spend time with her family. La Nelle brings many years of experience to our team due to her prior employment history with Kansas Judicial Branch and the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Email:office@lcgs.net

Dave Koenig

Sound Engineer

Dave Koenig

Sound Engineer

David joined the staff of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in 2008. He handles the technical aspects for all audio events throughout the church campus. He brings with him 40 years of experience in the music industry with many album credits to his name as a recording and mixing engineer. Name a renowned recording studio in the greater Los Angeles area and he has worked there, even a few studios in New York and Atlanta. He is a mainstay in our Mexico Mission trip, helping build a single-family residence for hard working families. He considers himself blessed to have been able to travel to Uganda to visit our International Mission partner: Smile Africa. “A truly amazing experience, where we spent several days with some of the happiest, most joy filled children I’ve ever met”. His hobbies include snow skiing, reading books, and enjoying the many talented local musicians that play throughout the South Bay; not least of which are all our talented band members here at LCGS.

Email:davidk@lcgs.net

Elders

Scott Kebschull

President

Scott Kebschull

President

Scott Kebschull has been attending Good Shepherd since 1987 with his wife, Laura. He is currently a member of the Brothers in Arms men’s group, and he’s one of the organizers of the LCGS Gourmet Club. In the past, Scott has been a member of the LCGS Board of Elders and has served as Treasurer and President. In 2022, he returned to the Board of Elders and is currently serving as the Vice President. His primary spiritual gifts are in the areas of administration and leadership. He is an engineer who has spent his entire career working for an automotive research services and research products company in Torrance, and in addition to engineering duties he currently oversees finance and human resources. Scott and Laura enjoy tennis, travel, wine, and food.

Samuel Thambiraj

vice president

Samuel Thambiraj

vice president

Samuel Thambiraj has been attending Good Shepherd since 2009 and became a member in 2010. He has been serving as part of the Tech Team at LCGS since 2012. He is passionate about reaching out to co-workers and friends. He is an engineer and currently works in the Information Technology Industry. He enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with family and friends. His favorite verse is Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose"

Greg Wilton

Treasurer

Greg Wilton

Treasurer

Greg was baptized as a child and grew up attending a Methodist church and a Lutheran elementary school through third grade, before stepping away from both. He returned to the church after meeting his wife, Cheryl, and the two have been members of Good Shepherd since 1986. Over the years, they have actively participated in various small groups within the church community. Married for 44 years, Greg and Cheryl have three adult daughters. All three daughters attended Good Shepherd Preschool and were involved in the church’s full range of children and youth programs. Greg previously served as President of the Board of Elders (2011–2017) and has been a longtime member of the tech team. He currently attends the Monday Night Bible Study led by Michael De La Rocha. A retired handyman, Greg finds joy in serving others and has regularly participated in mission efforts, including trips to Mexico and work with Habitat for Humanity.

Corina O'Neill

Secretary

Corina O'Neill

Secretary

Corina O’Neill has been a beloved member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church since 2019, but her journey with GSLC is truly a homecoming. Corina and her husband, Tim, were active members for 13 years during the 1990s. They were married by Pastor Martins and joyfully baptized their twin children at Good Shepherd, making it a deeply rooted part of their family’s spiritual life. With a heart for ministry, Corina has long been devoted to serving children and youth, believing it to be a special calling in God’s work. Professionally, Corina dedicated 30 years to Lutheran school education and now serves the South Bay community as an Educational Therapist. She brings compassion, experience, and faith to her work. More recently, the Lord placed a passion for Uganda on her heart, leading her to serve with Smile Africa Ministries—a mission that has become both a blessing and a new chapter in her walk of faith. Corina loves God with her whole heart, studying the Word and serving. She also finds joy in the outdoors, traveling, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Lucia Garcia

Spiritual Growth At-Large

Lucia Garcia

Spiritual Growth At-Large

Lucia Garcia started attending Good Shepherd in 2013 and became a member in 2015. On Easter Sunday in 2016, Lucia, along with seven (7) other members, were baptized. Lucia and her husband, Luis, have been married for 40 years and have a son, Randy, who lives in Henderson, NV and daughter, Sofia, who lives in Southern California. Luis and Lucia enjoy traveling the U.S. and visiting the national parks, walking on the beach, and watching old movies. Lucia retired in 2020 from Mazak Corporation after working there for 36 years as an Office Manager. She has participated in Mexico mission trips and is a part of Women's Cafe. Her favorite verse is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.”

Monika Voit

Fellowship At-Large

Monika Voit

Fellowship At-Large

Monika Voit has been attending Good Shepherd since the beginning of high school and became a member in 1986. She has served in the church body in various capacities including Sunday School teacher, youth ministry, and many bible study groups. She is also a member of the gourmet club. She served most recently on the Call Team searching for Good Shepherd's next lead pastor. Her spiritual gifts include shepherding, prophecy, and teaching. She has been an elementary school teacher for 27 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has three adult daughters (Maria, Lily, and Anna) who also attend Good Shepherd. Maria confirmed her faith in 2012, Lily in 2014, and Anna in 2021. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, and hosting friends and family. She is most blessed to be a part of the Good Shepherd family and looks forward to what God has in store for our church and community.

Kristin Bailey

Outreach At-Large

Kristin Bailey

Outreach At-Large

Kristin Bailey is currently serving on the LCGS Shepherding Team and the Equipping Ministry, and has previously served on the Prayer Ministry. Combining her spiritual gifts of administration, pastoring, and mercy, she strives to live out her passion that is the intersection between women’s leadership and faith. She still holds her confirmation verse, Joshua 1:9, close to her heart. Kristin is an educational leader specializing in program administration and faculty development within Christian higher education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the beach, walking her beloved dog (Millie), cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers, and going to musicals.

Missionaries

Michael De La Rocha

Missionary

Michael De La Rocha

Missionary

Michael gave his life to Christ at Good Shepherd during the 2008 Easter service. He immediately developed a passion for serving the Lord and from 2009 to 2011 Michael served on the Good Shepherd staff as a Student Ministries Coordinator. In 2008 he went on his first short mission trip to Uganda and after several more trips there confirmed his calling in 2010. In 2011 Michael was commissioned by Good Shepherd as Missionary and moved to Uganda and began serving under Pastor Ruth Kahawa at Smile Africa Ministries (SAM). SAM is a safe place where hundreds of vulnerable children gather daily to attend school, have a nutritious lunch and learn the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2011 Michael married his wife Sylivia, a Ugandan, and they now have 4 children. When Michael and Sylivia are not busy with administrative duties at Smile Africa or discipling the children and youth they enjoy swimming with their kids.

Email:michael@lcgs.net

Contact

21100 Victor Street
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 542-1649
office@lcgs.net
Weekly Email Signup

Worship Services

8:00 AM — Traditional
10:00 AM — Contemporary (Children’s Ministry Available)

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