Leadership

STAFF

The New Testament calls everyone who follows Jesus to be servant leaders in the Church, but some are called to devote themselves to ministry as their life’s calling.

Get to know the LMC Staff

JOE BARSHA

Lead Pastor

Called to the role of Lead Pastor in 2020, Joe has been on staff at LMC since 2017. He has over a decade of full-time youth ministry experience, working with students ranging from 6th grade all the way up to young adults. Most recently, he was the Director of Junior High Ministries at Forest Home, working with 2,400+ Jr High students and counselors each summer for four years. He has a Bachelors Degree in Youth Ministry from Hope International University (’06) and a Masters Degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (’13). Joe speaks at youth camps including Campus by the Sea, Ponderosa Christian Camp, and Forest Home. Joe and his wife Rachel have been married since June 2007 and have two young children, Emma and RJ. They enjoy Orange County, its beautiful beaches, as well as Ducks Hockey and Angels baseball.

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JENNIFER RICHMOND

Discipleship "Lifeboat" Pastor

Jennifer grew up a PK (pastor’s kid), gave her life to the Lord at a young age, and has been with LMC family since 2001 and active on staff since 2010 after retiring from being a school teacher for 30 years. Jennifer serves through preaching, teaching, worship, writing Bible studies and in the discipleship of our church family.
She’s a published author and illustrator and has produced two albums of original Scripture-based worship music. Her heart is to equip the church to be firm in their Christian faith by having a passion to be with the Lord through prayer and Bible study. She writes and teaches the Dwelling Richly community Bible study series. Jennifer and her husband Glen have been married since 1988 and are the proud parents of their grown son, Jonathan. They’re enjoying this empty nest season and love their ministry at La Mirada. She loves sushi, bacon, and all things avocado!

Jennifer’s Testimony: Listen/Watch Here

She blogs at www.jennifergrichmond.com and podcasts at DwellingRichly.podbean.com

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DIANA SOVILLA

youth & young adults director

Diana began attending LMC in the summer of 2020 and officially became the youth director in January of 2022. She loves helping others with anything they might need help with. She specifically has a heart for helping people accept themselves for the way God made them and being completely authentic. Her primary goal is to help the youth students and young adults to solidify their faith in God so that whatever the world throws at them they would be able to rely on God throughout those obstacles.

Diana and her husband Cory have been married since 2018 and they both enjoy serving LMC in various capacities. They consider the youth students their “children.”

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Hector Castro

worship leader

Hector gave his life to Christ at the age of 16, a turning point that marked the beginning of a deep and transformative journey of faith. Not long after, Hector felt a clear and compelling call toward the worship ministry. He began playing bass, and then picked up the drums and guitar along the way, always giving all the glory to Jesus Christ for every talent. He discovered that worship was not just an expression of talent, but a sacred opportunity to encounter God’s presence and lead others into it together. Hector has been serving in the Spanish Worship Ministry since May 2024 and joyfully answered the call to serve as worship leader for La Mirada Christian Church since 2025. He believes that every gift is from the Lord, and it is our joyful responsibility to use those gifts to build up the Church and reflect Christ to the world. Hector is a proud and devoted father to two sons, Benjamin and Felix, and strives daily to model a Christ-centered life for them—one rooted in love, integrity, and service.

Spiritual Leadership

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