Minister loves his work at Presbyterian Church

By Claire Vereczky Malis Special to The Acorn

The Rev. Dr. Richard Thompson, senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Westlake Village, admits several years went by in his life before he finally heard the "divine guidance" calling him to the ministry.

Growing up in Burbank,

Thompson said he had participated in many activities at the city’s First Presbyterian Church, but was still uncertain about his future. After finishing college at the University of California in Santa Barbara, he attended Pasadena’s Fuller Theological Seminary and the San Francisco Theological Seminary of San Anselmo in northern California.

Thompson also interned at various seminaries in France, but the young Christian still hadn’t heard God’s calling.

"It was a step of faith that has been confirmed ever since," the reverend said.

Westlake Presbyterian is the home he loves.

"The church is phenomenal with helping people in God’s work," Thompson said.

The church’s mission activities include Mexico, Turkey, Haiti, Kenya, Africa. It’s also involved with Habitat for Humanity, a local winter shelter and a free medical clinic.

Thompson helped his church found a missionary in Haiti after he made seven visits there to care for that nation’s destitute. He also became a boardmember of Floresta, an international organization introducing agroforestry to counteract thoughtless deforestation of poverty-stricken Haiti’s precious resources.

One of the biggest challenges in the church today, Thompson said, is to encourage people in their faith and to mobilize them in God’s redemptive work around the world. He stressed that the worship experience is "primary" in order to connect the hearts and hands of the faithful. He said pastors should help their congregations respond to cultural issues in society such as family, marriage, bioethics and moral values.

Before arriving at the Westlake church about nine years ago,

Thompson had served Presbyterian churches in Rancho Bernardo and Point Loma near San Diego. His first pastorate was at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Redondo Beach.

Thompson and his wife Suzanne have a daughter, Julia, who is in her senior year at the University of Southern California.

Thompson said Westminster Presbyterian Church has increased to 1,200 members since its founding pastor, the Rev. Dr. Robert Boss, began knocking on doors in the First Neighborhood community.

The growing congregation, which meets at 32111 Watergate Road in Westlake Village, will add a contemporary service beginning at 11:15 a.m. on Sun., Feb. 6, 2005. Earlier Sunday services will be rescheduled to start at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Immediate plans include Christmas Eve services on Thurs., Dec. 24. Family worship will begin at 5 p.m. and a candlelight service at 8 p.m. A candlelight/communion service will be held at 10 p.m.

For additional information about Westminster Presbyterian activities, please call the church at (818) 889-1491 or visit its website www.wpcwestlake.org.