Pastor Lauren Whitfield is a Washington, DC native who now calls Philadelphia home. At the age of 15, she had a powerful encounter with the Lord, which led her to her first mission trip to Panama just two months later. Her passion for global ministry grew as she pursued a Bachelor's degree in Missions and Anthropology from Eastern University.

Pastor Lauren has shared the gospel in diverse settings, from the jungles of Panama to the intellectual circles of Harvard Square; from ministering to girls rescued from prostitution in Thailand to engaging with atheists at USC; from working with children in Bolivia to serving in inner-city ministry in Kansas City, and alongside the church in Brazil. After seven years of full-time vocational ministry as a missionary, during which she raised her own financial support, Pastor Lauren felt led to transition to a new assignment: seminary.

She attended Princeton Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity degree, while also completing a dual master's degree in Social Work from Rutgers University. Throughout her journey, Pastor Lauren has remained deeply committed to serving vulnerable and underserved populations. Some of the most meaningful spaces she has occupied include helping Cuban refugees in Kansas City adjust to a new life, teaching one-on-one driving lessons in Atlanta (where the front seat became a sacred and safe space for invaluable conversations), and walking alongside young women as they navigate life's ups, downs, and in-betweens.

In May 2023, Pastor Lauren was ordained an itinerant elder by Bishop Julius H. McAllister, Sr. at the Philadelphia Annual Conference.

In July 2023, Pastor Lauren was appointed as the pastor of New Bethel AME Church in Willow Grove, where she is committed to fostering spiritual growth and community transformation. She is joyfully married to her husband, Omar, and together they have three young children—Adrienne-Renee, Simone, and Caleb.

Pastor Lauren is excited about what God is doing in and through New Bethel AME Church, in the Crestmont community, and throughout Willow Grove. One of her favorite scriptures is Psalm 27:1.