Thomas Haugen, Lead Pastor, El Montecito Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara, CA
At the age of eighteen, under the starry, summer sky of North Carolina, at a Young Life camp called Windy Gap, I put my trust in Jesus Christ. I am a graduate of the University of Georgia (BA, Speech Communications,1994), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv, 1999), the University of Edinburgh (ThM, Homiletics, 2000), and Middlesex University (PhD, Homiletics, 2022). My introduction to ministry began with Young Life both as a volunteer and then with a full-time church partnership. My wife and I have served at churches in Zurich (Switzerland), Atlanta, and Boston’s North Shore. I met my wife, Lauri, while we were studying at Gordon-Conwell. She also has a MDiv and currently serves as the Assistant Pastor to Families right here at El Montecito Presbyterian Church. I am blessed to have a wife who shares a love for ministry! We have three amazingly, awesome daughters: Melia, Annie, and Jocelyn.
From 2013-2019 I served as the Chaplain of Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. I have a PhD in homiletics through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and The London School of Theology. I am passionate about relational ministry, pastoring and teaching God’s Word in a way that connects biblical truth to people’s lives. Currently I am serving the Lord as the Lead Pastor of El Montecito Presbyterian Church. It is a joy to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, teach God’s Word, and serve the needs of the local and global community.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What are some highs and lows you are facing right now in your life?
- Would you agree with the statement “A prayerless life is a prideful life?” Why or why not?
- How has Jesus replaced chaos with flourishing in your life?
Taylor University Chapel 