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).
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.
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.
Understand the structure and roles of Living Word Church in our Committee, Ministry Team, & Officer Handbook
