Someone once said, “You may never be famous, but you can shine like the stars.”  Just as the stars pierce through the darkness of night, followers of Jesus Christ shine the light of God in the darkness of this fallen world.

Halogen began as a third service of Light and Life Christian Fellowship in north Long Beach, led by the lead pastor, Larry Walkemeyer.  A group of people met together once a week at Pastor Larry's house for a laid back time of hanging out and having fun.  In doing so, they enjoyed playing games, eating with one another, praying together, worshiping God in song, and having a time for Bible study.  

As this group began to meet on a regular basis, a few asked to have a more intentional time of in-depth Bible study mixed with solid fellowship.  The group began to implement one another’s creative side as people’s gifts and talents were being explored.  They moved from Pastor Larry's house to Light and Life Christian Fellowship to begin a new service, a Sunday evening "church within a church."  They decided to create an environment in which people could express their talents and passions,  worship together, and learn more about the Bible.  One of the founders, Greg Negrete (now the associate pastor), suggested the name “Halogen” referring to a light bulb in his house (clever).  The name has become part of our mission as we seek the Lord to shine God’s light in and through our hearts that we may reflect the grace of God by our lives in the world.

The first official Halogen service took place in April, 2004.  With a hybrid of an energetic contemporary worship team led by Devin DeLozier, a creative atmosphere led by Deb Walkemeyer and the Look team, a sketch done by the drama team, and a Bible teaching by Pastor Larry Walkemeyer, Halogen hit the ground running.  For 5 years, Halogen has continued to progress and evolve to becoming the church it is today.

A unique paradigm shift took place in 2007 when Halogen became more of a unique  service under the leadership of Pastor Izzy Matos.  Pastor Izzy, who had been the youth pastor for Light and Life Christian Fellowship since 2003, was given the responsibility to oversee the Halogen service, which was still integrated as a 3rd service of Light and Life Christian Fellowship, and shepherd the people therein.  In 2008, Halogen picked up a new worship leader, Pastor Carlos Cueva, and an administrative assistant, Leanne Clements.  For the first time, Halogen had a 'staff', while still operating as a 3rd service of Light and Life Christian Fellowship.

In 2009, Halogen added an associate pastor, Greg Negrete, to assist in shepherding the Halogen family while also being trained to become the executive pastor and budget overseer.  The leadership prayed for direction in building a more solid foundation for the effectiveness of our church's mission to do Kingdom work.  As a person with a B.S. in Business Management, and also moving forward in ordination, we figured Pastor Greg was the perfect person to add on the Halogen team.  

After several years of being mentored by Pastor Larry Walkemeyer, being supported in providing leadership and oversight to Halogen, and being given the responsibility to take Halogen under his wing, Pastor Izzy Matos felt it was time to move forward in planting Halogen off of the Light and Life Christian Fellowship campus, on onto its own as an individual church.  Pastor Larry and the leadership at Light and Life Christian Fellowship supported this decision and encouraged the giant step forward.  In addition, the Free Methodist Conference, the denomination family of which Halogen is a part, has expressed support and encouragement in this new endeavor.

In 2010, Halogen has moved forward to becoming a full church plant, dedicated to equipping Christians with Bible teaching that they may go out into the community and unto the world to share the message of salvation through Christ.  In addition, a group of people has been established to be a light in the darkness with accountability, a solid understanding of God’s Word and the protection of prayer.  These people have become the Halogen Alliance.  Our church leadership desires that people innovatively use their gifts and talents to edify one another and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We exhort people to grow in community with one another.  We also encourage people to share their faith story and the love of God through Jesus Christ with people outside of our church community.  Finally, we live each day praising God for saving us and asking how we may be used for work in God’s Kingdom.

We are in an exciting time of looking for and buying a church building, raising money to support our ministry, and being used to do Kingdom work in a new area, which we trust God to reveal to us.  We trust the next time we update our story, we will be able to share the amazing miracle God did to open the doors for Halogen to have its own church building and begin doing ministry as a unique church.  Of course, the story will not stop with the building or ability to support our ministry.  On the contrary, our story will truly begin...