Valley West celebrates Pastor Leach

For The Madera Tribune

Pastor Lance Leach and his wife Barbara.

---

Lead Pastor Lance Leach, and wife Barbara Leach, are now serving in a greater capacity at Valley West Christian Center in 2022.

Pastor Lance Leach has served at Valley West Christian Center since Sept. 1, 1991 as Youth Pastor, Associate, Family Pastor and now in his 31st year at the church, as the Lead Pastor taking over the majority of church responsibilities from his father, Roger Leach, founder of the church in May 1987. Pastor Roger continues as Pastor Emeritus/Founder Pastor, performing duties in the church and community.

Lance studied at the Dallas Christ for the Nations Institute and received a degree in Contemporary Christian Ministries at Fresno Pacific University. He has helped organize mission trips to Mexico, Jamaica, countries in Africa and travelled to Israel. Leach graduated from Madera High School in 1988 where he was active in Campus Life and his passion to help youth continues as he now heads the campus ministry of Fellowship of Christian Athletes for Madera and spends one day a week as a substitute high school teacher on the Madera and Chowchilla high school campuses.

Barbara is employed at the Madera District Fair as the special Events Coordinator and has developed many community events supporting the families of the Madera Community, such as the Second Wind 5K Run, Fair Camp and Christmas drive through at the fairgrounds, to name a few.

Together, they have raised three adult children, Jackson, who graduated from Mount Marty University in South Dakota, Olivia, currently with Circuit Riders, a worship ministry group of Youth With A Mission spreading the Gospel in high school and college campuses (recently married to Asa Stern), and Penelopi, finishing her sophomore year at Vanguard University while running track.

Lance has a strong heart for the community, organizing many of the Madera Ministerial Association’s activities, such as, October’s Nite-Lite, Love Madera, Prayer for the many community areas, and combined Church of Madera events. He is never tiring with great vision and energy in serving his community. He supports all the ministries of the town and develops relationships between the churches, businesses, and sports communities of Madera.

His favorite saying is an old English Proverb that states “Many Hands Make Light Work”, which is a reference to Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him.” (Good News Version)

Sunday Services are at 10am at 101 W. Adell Street in Madera.