Pastor: Rev. Dr. Hanlim Chae
Rev. Hanlim Chae will be in the pulpit sharing his first sermon with Lafayette Presbyterian with Church on Sunday, January 14.
He comes to us from Jupiter, Florida, where he was recently the Parish Associate Pastor of Gardens Presbyterian Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Before that he was the Transitional (Interim) Minister of the Korean Presbyterian Church of Palm Beach, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Hanlim was born in South Korea and moved to the United States in 2004. He has been married to his lovely wife, Euna, for 30 years and they have three children. Their oldest daughter, Minji, is working in Atlanta, as a Pilates Instructor. Their second daughter, Min is currently in medical school in Jacksonville. And their son, Suhwan, is graduating from high school this May. So, Euna and Suhwan won't be joining us until after his graduation.
Hanlim is excited about the calling to Lafayette Presbyterian and eagerly seeks to build relationships with the congregation, our Westminster Oaks neighbors, and the FSU student population through UKirk Tallahassee.
He comes to us from Jupiter, Florida, where he was recently the Parish Associate Pastor of Gardens Presbyterian Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Before that he was the Transitional (Interim) Minister of the Korean Presbyterian Church of Palm Beach, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Hanlim was born in South Korea and moved to the United States in 2004. He has been married to his lovely wife, Euna, for 30 years and they have three children. Their oldest daughter, Minji, is working in Atlanta, as a Pilates Instructor. Their second daughter, Min is currently in medical school in Jacksonville. And their son, Suhwan, is graduating from high school this May. So, Euna and Suhwan won't be joining us until after his graduation.
Hanlim is excited about the calling to Lafayette Presbyterian and eagerly seeks to build relationships with the congregation, our Westminster Oaks neighbors, and the FSU student population through UKirk Tallahassee.
Church Secretary: Lynda Blount
Though rumored to be a “Romanian princess with a questionable past,” Lynda Blount was born and raised right here in Tallahassee—alas, neither a Romanian princess nor in possession of a “questionable past!” Creative, quietly generous, modest, and bright, Lynda joined the staff as Church Secretary in September 1993, soon earning respect for the well-prepared print materials she created and, over time, the wealth of institutional knowledge she’s gathered. Managing all things, from recalcitrant copiers to a steady stream of calls, questions, and church visitors; maintaining official church records; supporting the work of the pastor, staff, and volunteers; registering VBS participants; and making certain member needs are met, Lynda juggles it all. As Church Secretary, Lynda has served three installed pastors and four interim pastors, and is currently working with her fourth pastor at Lafayette.
A passionate supporter of the people of Lafayette, she can often be found quietly moving through the background to be certain rooms are set up for meetings and studies, with fresh coffee on hand. If she’s away from her desk, it’s likely she’s doing a post-office run, helping a community resident in need, driving a church member home from rehab, or making sure our members’ families are well-supported in times of need. She’s even been known to escort out-of-towners, unfamiliar with our traffic, from I-10 to the hospital to see one of our ailing members!
Married to Bill Blount, Lynda is a devoted mother to six children and—though she doesn’t look it—a devoted grandmother of five. Deeply involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for many years, Lynda has twice co-chaired the local JDRF walk to raise funds for research, which—in time—supports the work done locally for children and adults in need. She loves spending time with family, and we are blessed that her family shares her with us!
A passionate supporter of the people of Lafayette, she can often be found quietly moving through the background to be certain rooms are set up for meetings and studies, with fresh coffee on hand. If she’s away from her desk, it’s likely she’s doing a post-office run, helping a community resident in need, driving a church member home from rehab, or making sure our members’ families are well-supported in times of need. She’s even been known to escort out-of-towners, unfamiliar with our traffic, from I-10 to the hospital to see one of our ailing members!
Married to Bill Blount, Lynda is a devoted mother to six children and—though she doesn’t look it—a devoted grandmother of five. Deeply involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for many years, Lynda has twice co-chaired the local JDRF walk to raise funds for research, which—in time—supports the work done locally for children and adults in need. She loves spending time with family, and we are blessed that her family shares her with us!
Director of Music: Steven Olson
Originally from Hazard, Kentucky - Steven Olson is currently the Director of Choirs at Green Level High School, a new school in the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina. Since opening their doors in 2019, the program at Green Level has grown rapidly from 35 singers to the 100+ it serves today. The choir most recently performed for the school’s first ever MPA (Music Performance Adjudication) in which all choirs received superior ratings in both performance and sight reading. Steven is incredibly proud of the work his students have put in to make the choral program so successful in such a short amount of time. In addition to his teaching at Green Level, Steven is also the Staff Development chair for HS Choral Teachers in Wake County, as well a Co-Director of the Cary Youth Voices, a community youth ensemble serving grades 2-12. Steven is also the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Cary Chamber of Commerce (2020) and the Richard G. Cox Award for Outstanding Emerging Choral Director presented by North Carolina ACDA. (2021)
Steven holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky, where he studied conducting with Drs. Jefferson Johnson and Lori Hetzel, and voice with Dr. Angelique Clay.
Outside of music, Steven loves travelling and spending time with his wife, Sarita, and their cat TiDo (named after the solfege syllables, of course).
Steven holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky, where he studied conducting with Drs. Jefferson Johnson and Lori Hetzel, and voice with Dr. Angelique Clay.
Outside of music, Steven loves travelling and spending time with his wife, Sarita, and their cat TiDo (named after the solfege syllables, of course).
Pianist: Bryden Reeves
Bryden Reeves is an instrumental music education major studying piano at Florida State University! I am a member of the Big 8 Drumline and play percussion and piano in the bands as well. I also write music and have 7 world premieres to my name! Besides music, I like to paint and cuddle my 7 cats, dog, and snake.
Music Department Intern: Maggie Merrell
Maggie Merrell is a second year Choral Music Education major at the Florida State University. I am involved in an a cappella group on campus called the Acabelles! I’ve also been their apprentice music director for the past two years! I am also involved in an international music fraternity on campus called Sigma Alpha Iota and I have been their Music Director for the past year. Outside the college of music, I love spending time outside and hanging out with friends! I am so honored and excited to be your music intern!