Pastor of Jr. High Ministries
Annie McLaren is the Pastor of Junior High Ministries here at Lake Avenue Church. Annie’s passion is for students to encounter the living God and to authentically walk with Jesus Christ in the life of the church. She is deeply committed to facilitating relationships between adults and junior high students, and believes that God’s love shines through these adults as they engage in the lives of teenagers. Annie loves working with Junior High students at Lake, because they are at a unique juncture in life; they are just beginning to figure out who they are and where they fit. Annie’s passion is to come alongside of them and show them that they are children of the living God and they belong to the Body of Christ.
Annie grew up in Memphis, TN in the heart of the Bible belt. After high school, she ventured to the Midwest to attend college at Northwestern University right outside of Chicago, majoring in Psychology and Religion. It was here that Annie first became involved with youth ministry, participating in Young Life, a non-denominational parachurch ministry to high school students. After finishing up her years at Northwestern, Annie felt called by God to Boulder, CO to work at First Presbyterian Church in the youth ministry department. From here she found herself drawn to the great state of California to get her Masters in Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary here in Pasadena.
While studying at Fuller, Annie served as a volunteer in the Junior High Department here at Lake. She built relationships with the amazing kids of this church and soon found herself part of this “Unexpected” church family. As her MDiv came to a close in 2008 and it was time to look for a job, Lake was a natural fit. She was drawn to Lake’s emphasis on racial reconciliation and building a multi-ethnic church that reflects Revelation 7:9 
’s picture of God’s family, and felt God’s call to come on staff. Annie has loved being at Lake over the last several years. It has become a home for her, a place where she has seen God at work. She is excited for what God will continue to do in the Junior High students here!
