Christian Matthew Washington serves as Associate at Lancaster United Methodist Church, bringing a heart for people and more than two decades of leadership experience to the Antelope Valley.
Prior to serving here, Christian was a licensed local pastor at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, where he spent more than a decade as lead campus pastor of Upper Room, a multi-ethnic campus. It was in Houston that his commitment to people on the margins took root, and it remains at the center of his ministry today.
His preparation for that ministry included studies in management science at the University of California, San Diego, and theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Alongside his church work, he has spent more than 20 years as a leadership consultant, speaker, and executive coach. He founded REAL Coaching, Inc., whose clients include faith-based institutions, nonprofits, and Fortune 50 companies. He co-authored Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World with Rev. Dr. Rudy Rasmus, and his forthcoming book, Go On Three: Breaking the Habit of Hesitation, carries that same message of stepping forward despite fear.
Serving in the Antelope Valley, Christian can be found preaching on Sundays, teaching midweek studies and classes, facilitating strategic retreats, and serving at the Soup Kitchen on Thursdays. Each of these builds on the commitment to people on the margins that has guided him since his years in Houston.
A Los Angeles native who grew up in Compton, Christian is a devoted sports fan who still roots for his three childhood teams: the Dodgers, the Lakers, and the USC Trojans. Away from the church and his work, he enjoys hiking, tennis, and traveling with his family.
