Meet Our Staff
- Reverend
Joanna D'Agostino - Rachel Burns
- Karen Lee
- Kristen Humphreys
- Peter Hampton
- Adam Sampson
- Tim Hampton
Reverend Joanna D’Agostino, Senior Minister
Rev. Joanna D’Agostino has been the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Congregational Church since June 2018. In addition to leadership, preaching, and pastoral care, her ministry has been focused in Restorative Justice work— formerly practiced in Wisconsin state prisons — ministry and advocacy for and with the LGBTQ+ community, and active participation in the United Church of Christ’s Council for Health and Human Services Ministries (CHHSM). Joanna has served in a variety of leadership positions for the Living Water Association (Heartland Conference UCC) and serves on the Board of Directors for United Church Homes.
She received her Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, and a B.A. in creative writing and French language from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. She was ordained by the Living Water Association of the United Church of Christ in August 2012, and served the First Congregational Church of Ripon, Wisconsin from 2012-2018.
Joanna was born and raised in Berea, Ohio, and both she and her husband have deep roots in the greater Cleveland area. They have three children, Evelyn, Amos, and Suzette, as well as a pit bull mix, three cats, and a bearded dragon. Outside of ministry, Joanna’s interests include art, animals, and spending time with family, friends, and neighbors, often on her Lakewood porch.
(216) 221-9555/Cell (920-376-1117)
revjoanna@LCC-Church.org
Rachel Burns, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries
Rachel is a life-long Ohio resident. She was born in Athens and grew up in Logan, Middletown, and Findlay, as her family followed her father’s career as a pastor. Growing up, church ministry was always a part of Rachel’s life. She chose to follow her calling into professional ministry in 2001 when she chose to major in Youth Ministry at Ohio Northern University.
It was that God-inspired energy that carried Rachel successfully through 14 +years of professional youth ministry at United Methodist churches in Findlay, Lima, and Rocky River. Most recently, Rachel worked at OhioGuidestone with young children who have mental and behavioral health challenges.
Rachel and her husband Chris live in Lakewood their two children, David and Lilly, and their rescue dog and turtle. Rachel enjoys music, crafting, thrift shopping, and spending time with her family, especially camping and family trips to Canada.
She is passionate about the full inclusion of all people in the church, including people who are LGBTQ or have any type of special needs. She is overwhelmed by the wonder, majesty, and love of God and wants everyone to feel that they are deserving of that same love.
(216) 221-9555
Rachel@LCC-Church.org
Karen Lee, Office Manager
Karen Lee started attending LCC with her family when her daughter, Veronica, enrolled in Haynes Nursery School. Since then, she has enjoyed
participating in many volunteer opportunities from VBS to the Youth Musicals and eventually volunteering in the office. Eventually, that volunteering lead to a position as Assistant Office Manager and in 2018 she became the full-time Office Manager. Karen has a BA in Directing, an MFA in Stage Management, and served as an Equity Stage Manager and Director until deciding to stay home with her daughter.
(216) 221-9555 ext. 101
Karen@LCC-Church.org
Peter Hampton, Director of Music Ministries
Most recently, Peter served as the director of choirs at Twinsburg High School and R. B. Chamberlin Middle School in Twinsburg, OH. There he worked with students in traditional choir settings, as well as with Twinsburg’s extensive show choir program. Prior to this he taught choral music and class piano at Lynn Classical High School in Lynn, Massachusetts. From 2012 through 2017 he taught at Lakewood High School, where directed eight choral ensembles, taught music history and class piano, and assisted with directing the school musical. Peter also taught middle and elementary school general music in the Lakewood City School District from 2008 through 2012.
Peter has served on the board of the Ohio Choral Directors Association as the Northeast Region Chair, and has been an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and The National Association for Music Educators for several years.
As a singer, Peter has performed with the Analog Chorale, Cleveland Chamber Choir, Quire Cleveland, and Cantores Cleveland Early Music and Arts. For four years he served as tenor section leader and soloist at LCC, and before that was a member of the Cathedral Choir of St. John the Evangelist, Cleveland. From 2007 to 2023 he served on the staff of the Cardinal Chorale, an all-Ohio high school honor choir, under the leadership of Charles R. Snyder.
In 2019 Peter completed a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Boston University, where he studied under the instruction of Dr. Miguel Ángel Felipe, Dr. James Sparks, and Bramwell Tovey. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education (2007) from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, where he studied voice with Robert Nims and sang in choirs under the direction of Dr. Gayle Walker.
(216) 221-9555
Peter@LCC-Church.org
Adam Sampson, Organist
Mr. Sampson is a Cleveland transplant originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a Jazz Specialization from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music in 2015. He is currently a band director in Berea City Schools where his responsibilities include co-teaching 6th grade band, 6th grade orchestra, HS Jazz Ensemble and the three High School Concert Bands. Mr. Sampson has actively participated in state large group adjudicated events and is a dedicated member of both the Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) and the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA).
Prior to Berea City Schools, Mr. Sampson taught in Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools, where he established jazz bands that met daily for 7th, 8th, and high school levels, in addition to co-teaching middle school and high school band programs, along with general music classes. Prior to Sheffield, he spent four years teaching band, choir, and elementary music. In addition to teaching, he serves as the organist and pianist at Lakewood Congregational Church.
(216) 221-9555
Adam@LCC-Church.org
Tim Hampton, Director of Children’s Music
Tim Hampton is a percussionist who plays and teaches in the Cleveland area. He is the percussion advisor for the Lakewood High School marching band, teaches percussion at the high school and the Lakewood middle schools, and maintains a private teaching studio in his home. He also teaches percussion with the Cleveland Junior Honors Band at Tri-C. Tim plays a wide range of styles from popular drum set, to musical theater, to classical orchestral percussion. He is in the percussion section of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, is the drummer for the North Coast Men’s Chorus, plays timpani for St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and has played with Samba Joia Brazilian percussion ensemble.
Tim has a Master of Music degree from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Youngstown State University. He is a lifelong Lakewood resident and graduated from Lakewood High School. He lives with his wife Laura, daughter Anna, son Seth, and dog Pierogi. They have been members of LCC since 2016. Tim is an active member of the church and sings in the choir. In his free time he enjoys biking, cooking, listening to history podcasts, and volunteering in the daycare room at the Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants.
Tim’s life is guided by Psalm 150 verse 5: “Praise God with loud clashing cymbals!”
(216) 221-9555
Tim@LCC-Church.org