Rev. Matt Hambrick
Rev. Dr. Brian Tipton
Josie Jimenez
Matt is the Lead Pastor at here at First United. He is known for engaging and thought-provoking sermons and for riding his pink skateboard around the church. Matt started pastoring after studying philosophy and religion at Point Loma Nazarene University and Claremont School of Theology. It was at seminary that Matt found his passion for ministry, specifically for gathering people who have been traditionally left out by the mainstream Church. His academic spin on the Bible and theology is one key reason for his love of preaching and teaching. You can follow him on Instagram at @revhambrick.
Brian is the Teaching Pastor here at First United, sharing his gifts with us alongside Christ Church by the Sea in Newport Beach, Community UMC in Huntington Beach, and Mesa Verde UMC in Costa Mesa. He sees his call as a guide to others both within and outside of the Church. An academic guide. A theological guide. An emotional guide. A spiritual guide. A life guide. He has been a guide for many folks over the years, helping them navigate their own life journeys, their own travels, the bumps in the road along those journeys, but also the moments of celebration, the moments of theological reflection, and the moments of asking hard questions. In each of these he has felt called to remind folks that they are loved – that they are God’s beloved made in the image of God.
Josie, or Josephine Jael Jimenez for long, is a Latinx artist, writer, and activist from Southern California. She received her Bachelors in Studio Art from Azusa Pacific University, where she was radicalized beyond what was thought possible at an Evangelical Christian university. In other words, she's just trying to make it through life without causing too much trouble. Just kidding, she loves trouble.
Lead Pastor
Teaching Pastor
Church Administrator
Kyle Richardson
Kyle is a loving husband and father to his new daughter. Since 2005, he has been playing music in various church and performance settings in the United States and overseas. In 2019, he earned an MA in Theological Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. By day, he guides young minds as a Middle School Teacher in Santa Ana. Beyond these roles, the ocean, Dungeons & Dragons, and time outdoors bring him joy and inspiration. He is beyond grateful to be part of this inclusive and loving faith community.
