Rev. Marvin Havard, Senior Pastor
Most of my professional life has been in ministry of some kind. I grew up near Natchez, Mississippi and was raised in the Southern Baptist church. After college, I began working part-time in an ELCA congregation in Kansas City, Missouri and was irresistibly drawn to the Lutheran concept of grace. [Read more...]
Most of my professional life has been in ministry of some kind. I grew up near Natchez, Mississippi and was raised in the Southern Baptist church. After college, I began working part-time in an ELCA congregation in Kansas City, Missouri and was irresistibly drawn to the Lutheran concept of grace. [Read more...]
Rev. Junfeng Tan, Associate Pastor
Pastor Tan joined the Faith team in 2013 after serving 11 years as a pastor in the South Dakota Synod. Born in China, Pastor Tan graduated from Northwest University in Xi’an, taught Chinese to international students for five years, and then moved to the United States in 1997 to pursue graduate studies in Chinese literature at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. [Read more...]
Pastor Tan joined the Faith team in 2013 after serving 11 years as a pastor in the South Dakota Synod. Born in China, Pastor Tan graduated from Northwest University in Xi’an, taught Chinese to international students for five years, and then moved to the United States in 1997 to pursue graduate studies in Chinese literature at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. [Read more...]
Stacy Williams, Director of Operations
Stacy Williams is originally from central Louisiana but has lived in Texas since 1997; she calls herself a “Texana.” She earned an A.S. in Accounting from LA Tech, a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwood University, and an M.B.A. from Texas Southern University. Stacy comes to Faith from CrossPoint Community Church (LCMS) where for three years she was the Director of Communication and Administrative Services. [Read more...]
Stacy Williams is originally from central Louisiana but has lived in Texas since 1997; she calls herself a “Texana.” She earned an A.S. in Accounting from LA Tech, a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwood University, and an M.B.A. from Texas Southern University. Stacy comes to Faith from CrossPoint Community Church (LCMS) where for three years she was the Director of Communication and Administrative Services. [Read more...]
John Vickery, Pastoral Intern
John grew up in northwest Washington State and has three younger sisters who still live there. He was a camp counselor at a Lutheran camp in Bellingham, WA and served full time as a Challenge Course Coordinator. In 2015, after being in camp ministry for nearly five years, John decided to pursue a position as a youth director in a congregational setting so he moved to rural Iowa to serve as a Children, Youth, and Family Director. He was married in August 2017 to his wife, Kelsey; and in 2020 they welcomed their first child, Adalynn. John holds an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston-Downtown in Humanities with a concentration in Religious Studies. He is currently attending classes with Wartburg Theological Seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity, and now serves as Pastoral Intern at Faith. [Read more...]
John grew up in northwest Washington State and has three younger sisters who still live there. He was a camp counselor at a Lutheran camp in Bellingham, WA and served full time as a Challenge Course Coordinator. In 2015, after being in camp ministry for nearly five years, John decided to pursue a position as a youth director in a congregational setting so he moved to rural Iowa to serve as a Children, Youth, and Family Director. He was married in August 2017 to his wife, Kelsey; and in 2020 they welcomed their first child, Adalynn. John holds an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston-Downtown in Humanities with a concentration in Religious Studies. He is currently attending classes with Wartburg Theological Seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity, and now serves as Pastoral Intern at Faith. [Read more...]
Courtney Lerch, Director of Faith Formation
Courtney was born and raised in Houston and attended Faith Lutheran Church growing up. After graduating from Colby College in Maine, she came back to Houston as quickly as she could and taught middle school Spanish and coached soccer and softball at St. John’s School until her oldest child was born. Courtney and her husband, Eric, have three children: William, Catherine, and John. While caring for her young children, Courtney earned her Masters in Liberal Arts from the University of St. Thomas. She joined the Faith staff in January 2020 as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator and transitioned to the Director of Faith Formation in October 2022. In this role, she works to create many different types of activities for everyone of all ages, focusing on the major areas of learning, building community, and serving others. [Read more...]
Courtney was born and raised in Houston and attended Faith Lutheran Church growing up. After graduating from Colby College in Maine, she came back to Houston as quickly as she could and taught middle school Spanish and coached soccer and softball at St. John’s School until her oldest child was born. Courtney and her husband, Eric, have three children: William, Catherine, and John. While caring for her young children, Courtney earned her Masters in Liberal Arts from the University of St. Thomas. She joined the Faith staff in January 2020 as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator and transitioned to the Director of Faith Formation in October 2022. In this role, she works to create many different types of activities for everyone of all ages, focusing on the major areas of learning, building community, and serving others. [Read more...]
Yu Cao, Office Coordinator
Yu Cao came to the United States in 1999 after she graduated from Peking University Health Science Center with a Bachelor of Medicine. She studied Neuroscience at the Ohio State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in 2006. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Ohio State University before she moved to Houston with her family in December 2010. [Read more...]
Yu Cao came to the United States in 1999 after she graduated from Peking University Health Science Center with a Bachelor of Medicine. She studied Neuroscience at the Ohio State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in 2006. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Ohio State University before she moved to Houston with her family in December 2010. [Read more...]
Alan Balius, Organist/Choirmaster
Alan Balius has been honored to serve God in Faith’s music ministry since 1998. He leads Faith Choir, Faith Bell Choir, Faith Alive! Band, and plays organ and keyboards in worship. Alan’s full-time job is as an architect; he holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Houston, and a Master of Theology degree from Southern Methodist University. [Read more...]
Alan Balius has been honored to serve God in Faith’s music ministry since 1998. He leads Faith Choir, Faith Bell Choir, Faith Alive! Band, and plays organ and keyboards in worship. Alan’s full-time job is as an architect; he holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Houston, and a Master of Theology degree from Southern Methodist University. [Read more...]
Patricia Deckard, Office Coordinator
Patricia was born and raised in Shreveport, LA and moved to Houston shortly after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. She has over 20 years experience in general office, accounting, and payroll services in the oil and gas industry. [Read more...]
Patricia was born and raised in Shreveport, LA and moved to Houston shortly after graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. She has over 20 years experience in general office, accounting, and payroll services in the oil and gas industry. [Read more...]
Kendolyn Cooper Pope, Director, Faith Schools
Kendolyn Cooper Pope grew up in Houston and began as Director at the Day School in 2012. She is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA (B.A. in Child Development/Early Childhood Education) and The George Washington University in Washington, DC (M.A. in Museum Education). She is currently pursuing her EdD in Leadership and Organizational Change at Baylor University. She previously served as Director of National Presbyterian Church Child Care Center and Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Kendolyn and her husband, James, have two beautiful daughters, Carys and Cally. Kendolyn loves to travel, eat out and craft. Kendolyn is a big time sports fan, always ready to support her Astros, Texans and Rockets. [Read more...]
Kendolyn Cooper Pope grew up in Houston and began as Director at the Day School in 2012. She is a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, GA (B.A. in Child Development/Early Childhood Education) and The George Washington University in Washington, DC (M.A. in Museum Education). She is currently pursuing her EdD in Leadership and Organizational Change at Baylor University. She previously served as Director of National Presbyterian Church Child Care Center and Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Kendolyn and her husband, James, have two beautiful daughters, Carys and Cally. Kendolyn loves to travel, eat out and craft. Kendolyn is a big time sports fan, always ready to support her Astros, Texans and Rockets. [Read more...]
