Staff

Hello, my name is Ken Ballard, Jr.  I have been involved with doing some type of ministry for the past 20 plus years.  Boy, that makes me feel old.  Justin Bieber was not even born yet.  In October 1996, I joined the staff of Church of the Beach Cities.  The sixteen years that I spent on staff gave me tremendous opportunities to develop the skills and tools needed to take on the next chapter of my life which was to plant, lead, and build Impact Community Church.   Our church met at North High School in Torrance for three years until we merged with Crenshaw Baptist Church to form Encounter.  I have lived in the city of Torrance since 2006.  My family and I reside five minutes from the house that my wife was raised in and the schools she attended as a child and teen.  Our kids play soccer, baseball, take classes, and participate in boy scouts here.  We have built great relationships with families, neighbors, teachers, and other members of our community.  The result?  I have built a heart and a love for the people of Torrance and the surrounding communities of the South Bay.  One of the characteristics that I love and find of incredible value is the diversity that is represented racially, socioeconomically, and ethnically which is clearly seen in Torrance and the South Bay.  My dream and our goal is to build a church that reflects all of the cultures that you find in our community while being a beacon a God's incredible love and hope.

When not pastoring, Ken love to…
spend time with family
watch a good action movie or show
play fantasy football
listen to music
laugh at a good joke

To contact me:
Email: kenballardjr4@gmail.com
Twitter: @kenballardjr4
Instagram: kenballardjr

Tj has been leading worship for since the age of 8 and has been blessed to have lead worship all over the country alongside several great teams such as Juan and Lisa Winans, Hillsong Worship, and Bethel Worship. Tj has a deep passion for using his gifts of the spirit to create an immersive worship experience. When not leading worship Tj wears many hats including singer/songwriter, musician (piano, guitar, ukulele, banjo, and drums), music and vocal instructor, musical theatre performer, therapist/in-training psychologist, life coach, and animal behaviorist. Tj has a BFA in musical theatre from Cal State Fullerton, a minor in theology from Biola, a M.A. in clinical psychology with a focus on animal behavior and child cognition from LIU Brooklyn, a M.A. in clinical psychology with a focus on complex trauma from Biola, and is currently pursuing his doctorate in clinical psychology from Biola.

When not leading worship, Tj loves to…
do anything outdoorsy including running hiking, 5K’s and swimming...but not sports.
playing video gaming
meeting with his DnD (Dungeons and Dragons) group
crocheting gifts for friends
performing in plays and musicals with local theatres