Pastoral Staff

  • Erik Hallworth
    Lead Pastor

    I entered into pastoral ministry because I have been saved and shaped by the grace of Jesus Christ and I desire to see others be transformed by the same grace found in the Gospel of Christ. Jesus is our only hope! My passion as a pastor is to preach the Gospel, help others know Jesus and share the Gospel of Christ to as many as possible.

     

    My wife and I both love the Vancouver area. It is a beautiful city that has a great need for the Gospel and a place where we both have grown stronger in our faith. Laurelwood is a church that knows and loves God’s Word and loves one another with the love and support of Christ. We want to be in our local community extending the love of Christ in the local community here in Vancouver.

     

    With God’s help, I see Laurelwood Church impacting the community of Vancouver by being both a faithful witness to the Gospel of Christ in Vancouver and a place that reaches out to our community to share Christ through both our words and our deeds. We want to see individuals and families healthier and stronger through the ministry of the Gospel here at Laurelwood.

     

    Education: I graduated with my BA in Philosophy from San Francisco State University in 2015. I received my MDiv from Western Seminary in 2021.

    Hometown: Elk Grove, California

    Family: Married to my wife Francesca in 2017. We have one daughter who is named Elsie born in 2021.

    Favorite Scripture Verse: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5

    Favorite Biblical Character: Moses

    Favorite Hobby: Golfing, watching sports and hanging out with my family.

    Favorite Food/Drink: My favorite food is chicken wings and my favorite drink is a quality dark-roast coffee.

  • Sam Halstead
    Youth Director

    “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” This verse could not be more true of my life. My life has the finger prints of God’s sovereignty all over it. I grew up here at Laurelwood Baptist Church and have attended all my life. As I began to consider what my future would be, I was sure that I would move away to make a big name for myself, whether playing basketball, performing music, or as a WWE wrestler. God had other purposes for my life. In high school, I began serving as a student leader at youth group. After graduating high school, I knew to make my life’s dream a reality that I needed to make money. I decided that I would go into the construction field to save up money and begin my training as a wrestler. All the while I continued serving as a volunteer in youth ministry. The more I served, the more I understood what God’s calling on my life really was: to be in vocational ministry. I have served in various capacities here at Laurelwood from youth intern to youth and worship assistant. With the Lord opening and closing certain doors, I am now director of youth ministries and know that God has prepared me to be here at Laurelwood for such a time as this. My passion and heart’s desire is to see our youth endure through the trials of their teenage years to be mature and resilient disciples while in our youth program and after they graduate. I believe that this will be achieved by cultivating an environment where our students will develop a deeply rooted faith that is founded on faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, the word of God, and love for God and others.

     

    Another area where I have seen God sovereignly work is in my marriage to my wife Mindy. Mindy and I were introduced to each other through different people that we both are close with. We met in December of 2018 at her college in Bellingham and knew that we would be friends at some level given who are mutual friends were. While Mindy and I both previously reached contentment in our singleness, God had other purposes for us. Through what can only be described as an unshakable feeling brought about by the Holy Spirit, we decided that we would begin our long distance dating relationship and were married in April 2021. Praise God for bringing a true blessing of a woman into my life.

     

    I am continuing to pursue my education and plan to earn my bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries. Meanwhile, Pastor Erik offers me training in various theological and pastoral studies. While I might not have become a professional wrestler, I still enjoy watching wrestling. I also enjoy cooking for people, spending time with my family (typically eating), adventuring in the PNW with loved ones, and playing music.

  • Katie Doel
    Children's Ministry Director

    My whole family became Christians when I was a child because of a persistent six-year-old boy who invited us to church. I grew up at that same church and while in high school on a mission’s trip I felt God’s call to full time ministry.  I received my BS in Biblical Studies and Educational Ministries from Multnomah Bible College.  The year after college I worked in a small preschool and served as a co-leader for summer missions.  It was during that time that I felt led toward elementary education. After completing my master’s in teaching at Concordia University and working as a para educator for four years in Evergreen Public Schools I was certain I was supposed to teach in public school.  However, the Lord very specifically led me to Christian school where I taught second grade for seven years. I loved being able to teach Bible to students every day in the classroom.  During that time, I continued to serve in various ministry roles and even served for a year as an interim youth and children’s director in the church I grew up in.

     

    “In 2012, I went with a housemate to Laurelwood’s young adult ministry meeting. Despite my initial reluctance to attend the group, I am sure glad I did!  That night I met my husband David, and we now have three wonderful kids. After our first son was born, I chose to leave the classroom to stay home with our children. Over time, I have felt a calling to serve again vocationally in children’s ministry, and I’m grateful to be serving the kids and families at Laurelwood. As I have experienced in my own testimony, never underestimate the faith of a child and the power of God working in and through them.

     

    When I’m not hanging with the kids and families at Laurelwood, you’ll likely find me enjoying a chai tea latte, cheering at my kid’s baseball games, hosting a party, knitting, and enjoying my garden.” 

  • Allison DeViney
    Women's Ministry Director

    Allison grew up on a dairy farm in nearby Ridgefield, WA and only remembers attending church on special occasions or for programs like Vacation Bible School. At the age of 16, a few years after moving to Vancouver, she had close friends that invited her to Laurelwood which is where she accepted Christ. Since that time, she has had the opportunity to be mentored by several faithful women in the church.  

     

    After graduating from High School she intended to work in medical research and even had the opportunity to work in a Cytogenetics Lab at OHSU for a few years and then taught 8th grade science for a number of years after completing her BA at Washington State University. Since coming to Christ in 1996, Allison has served in various ministries including Youth and Children but ultimately the Lord led her to serve in Women’s Ministry, first as the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Coordinator and eventually in 2017 as the Women’s Ministry Director. She counts it a joy and privilege to serve the Women of Laurelwood.   

     

    Away from church, you can find Allison on a soccer field with her husband Scott cheering on their two kids, Liam and Ava; hiking in the beautiful PNW forest, or at a local coffee shop enjoying an Extra Hot Vanilla Latte.

  • Debbie Miller
    Office Manager / Bookkeeper
  • Jake Rawson
    Director of Creative Content

 

Elders

  • Dave Doel
    Elder Chair

    Dave accepted the Lord 28 years ago. He has been married to Katie for 6 years and they have 3 kids Levi, Lincoln, and Leah. Dave attended and served at his previous church for 16 years and became a member of Laurelwood shortly after moving to Vancouver in 2009. He has served as a middle school small group leader, young adult ministry lead, site development team member, preschool teacher, and Financial Peace facilitator. Dave has a heart of service and is a gifted leader at church and in his career. He and Katie love serving alongside the Laurelwood family. 

     

  • Phil Ball
    Elder

    Phil and Anna have been attending Laurelwood since late 2004. Right away, he was hired as the youth intern, then interim, then served as the youth pastor for 10 years until stepping down in June of 2017. His children, Naomi, Jada, Caleb, and Shiloh, have been born here in Vancouver and dedicated at Laurelwood. Prior to Laurelwood, Anna and Phil grew up at Trinity Baptist Church, in Spokane, WA, where they served in the youth ministry from the time they were in high school. They also served as the youth leaders at New Creation Fellowship until moving to Vancouver to further Phil's education at Western Seminary. Currently, Phil is in his fourth year serving with the National Network of Youth Ministries, unifying and networking youth leaders across the NW region to reach middle and high school students with the gospel. 

  • Herman Chan
    Elder

    Herman began attending Laurelwood in 2009. Laurelwood is the church where he came to know Jesus. He leads a small group of new marrieds and young families, and serves in the children’s ministry. He loves teaching kids about Jesus, and is finishing his Masters in Elementary Education with hopes of teaching many more kids about Jesus. Along with Herman's wife Trang, and 20 month old son Tabor, he is happy to call Laurelwood home.

  • Tracy Halstead
    Elder

    Tracy is the Child Evangelism Fellowship Director in Clark County. He has been working full time with children with CEF since 1993. Tracy is married and has two adult children living in the Vancouver area with their wives. He loves speaking at camps and helping kids know the love of Jesus in their lives. He has a degree in Christian Education from Multnomah School of the Bible and a Master's Degree of Christian Leadership from Corban University. Two of his passions are working with kids and teaching. For recreation, he loves sports (Both watching and playing), and playing board games with family and friends.

  • Doug Lundahl
    Elder

    Doug and Rebecca began attending Laurelwood in 2006. They have three children, Peter (24), Luke (21), and Natalie (18). Doug accepted Christ in junior high, but recommitted his life to Christ in his late 20’s after moving to the Pacific Northwest from Arizona. He has served as the Men’s Ministry leader and regularly volunteers in the children’s ministry teaching preschoolers and as a soccer coach at Laurelwood’s summer soccer camp. He and Rebecca currently lead the Beginning Adults Group and have a desire to see high school graduates continue in their walk with Jesus as they enter college or the workplace. In his free time Doug loves to get outdoors. Whether for a hike, a walk with Rebecca, or a round of golf or disc golf with the boys, the outdoors are his happy place.

  • Bob DeViney
    Elder

 

Ministry Leaders

Scott & Allison DeViney
Outreach Team Leader: Scott; Women's Ministry Leader Allison
Paul & Cheryl Lantz
Caring Team Ministry Leaders
Mike Lewis
Facilities Ministry Leader
Jennifer Lindsay
Equipping Hour
Rebecca and Doug Lundahl
Young Adult Ministry Leaders
Keith Miller
Connections Ministry
Brian Fraught
Men's Ministry