Our Team
The TUMC Team is a diverse group of individuals that welcome and empower people of all races and cultural backgrounds so that no one is excluded from an opportunity to become a part of the family.
Kevin Kang
Pastor
Kevin joined us this July 2023. He is local grown having attended Crescenta Valley High School where he spent most of his time eating at Everest and the local Burger King before it became a Starbucks. Kevin is passionate about finding the best taco joints in Los Angeles, collecting and owning way too many guitars for his own good, and advocating for marginalized groups, especially in the church.
Two years ago, he unexpectedly met his wife, Hanna, who is also pastor at First United Methodist Church in Upland, while attending class at Claremont School of Theology via Zoom. They are having a wedding ceremony in September, and they are incredibly excited to start their next chapter together.
Marcie Smith
Office Manager
Marcie joined us in October of 1997. She is often the first voice you will hear when calling the church office. She has served the church for over 25 years and feels very blessed to do so. She has many crafting skills that take up all of her spare time, from sewing doll clothes to making greeting cards, and many crafts in between.
Along with her husband Scott, she enjoys a good competitive game of cards and spending time with her family. She is the proud mother of two sons, one daughter-in-law and has two amazing granddaughters.
Ilia Tosheff
Accompanist
Ilia Tosheff, a native of Bulgaria, is an organist, pianist, and music educator based in Los Angeles, California. Since 2008, he has served as an organist and pianist at the Tujunga United Methodist Church. Prior to this, Mr. Tosheff served as a church pianist in the Miami, FL area for a period of three years. He received music degrees from the University of Southern California, the College of Music and Theater in Hannover, Germany, and the National Music Conservatory in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Together with his wife, Mr. Tosheff formed a piano duo team at the age of 18. Over the next 14 years, they toured across Europe, the United States, and Asia, where they performed recitals and were featured as soloists of multiple symphony orchestras. The duo is a winner of many two-piano competitions throughout the world. In addition to Ilia’s responsibilities at Tujunga United Methodist Church, in 2002 the Tosheffs established a private piano studio in Los Angeles, CA, where they offer individual piano instruction.
Haein Lee
Office Manager
Haein was born and raised in South Korea and joined our team in September 2024 as soon as she moved to Los Angeles. Prior to coming to LA, she received both her Bachelors and Masters in Theology at Methodist Theological University in Seoul. She is continuing her theological studies at Claremont School of Theology to broaden her theological and ministry perspectives and explore the areas in pastoral counseling and spirituality direction as a practitioner. After completing her Master of Divinity at CST, she plans on earning her PHD to deepen her gifts and use her research to provide training and guidance for ministry professionals.
Hain is currently serving at both Crescenta Valley and Tujunga UMC, and brings in a rich understanding of spiritual practices and unique cultural perspectives that stretches the imagination and ministry of the church. She often stresses the importance of authentic and deep community in the life of a Christian, and continues to teach us the ways this can be embodied.
