About Us

   "An Awesome Ministry with a Prophetic Vision, Proclaiming the Apostolic Doctrine,     JESUS SAVES!!!"

     What we believe     "The bible is inerrant and infallible Word of God

     All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for  doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:   That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good  works. "  II Timothy 3:16-17     

    Living Word Church is a nondenominational spirit filled assembly  dedicated to raising "sons" to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth.

     In 1991, poverty, homelessness, unemployment and blight were rampant  in the District's far southwest and southeast neighborhoods.  After  working in a shelter for homeless families, Eugene and Patrice Sheppard  sought the Lord, fasting and praying that He would show Himself strong  in a city that is bound by the spirit of Babylon.     

    The Lord answered the Sheppard's with the following scriptures. "In  the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was  God," John 1:1; and, "...the Word became flesh and dwelt among them."  John 1:14.       

    Recognizing the voice of the Lord, the Sheppard's' established  Living Word Church in  with the understanding that there were enough  government programs to provide for the natural man, the poor in spirit  needed to build their lives on Jesus Christ to gain eternal life.       

Rev. Eugene Sheppard has been  ministering to the body of Christ for over 30 years. As a pastor,  teacher and evangelist, he has traveled throughout the United States and  has done foreign mission worked in Haiti, India, South Africa and  England. He was schooled in biblical studies at Trinity Bible College,  Beth Messiah Bible College and Washington Bible College. Rev. Eugene  Sheppard is married to Patrice Sheppard. Together they have five  children and are the proud grandparents of 13 grandchildren and  great-grandparents of 2 great-grandchildren. 

    Mrs. Patrice Sheppard is the Executive Pastor of Living Word Church  where her husband Eugene Sheppard is the Senior Pastor. Before founding  Lydia's House, Mrs. Sheppard served as the Deputy Executive Director for  the National Association of Minority Contractors. She also held  positions in the Office of the Secretary and Office of the Deputy Mayor  for Planning and Economic Development in the District of Columbia. She  pursued a business management degree from Southeastern University,  Washington, DC and a marketing degree from University of the District of  Columbia. In addition to serving on the board of directors for Lydia's  House and the Far Southwest-Southeast Community Development Corporation  (CDC).

 Pastors Cliff & Sherry Beckford, joined the Living Word Church  family in 2015 after nine successful years as Founders and Pastors of  Laurel Lakes Christian Center, Laurel. Maryland.  As successful  entrepreneurs, governmental  and corporate careers, God called them into  the work of the ministry in 2006.  Pastor Cliff is a graduate of Logos  Bible College and Washington Saturday College.  He is a profound teacher  of the Word of God and has embraced the present Apostolic season as the  way back to the original intent of the Word.  Graced with a strong  business acumen and organizational skills, Pastor Cliff & Sherry  have embraced the vision given to Apostle Eugene & Patrice Sheppard  to STRENGTHENING FAMILIES,    GROWING CHILDREN  and CHANGING  NEIGHBORHOODS.