Eugene M. Sheppard

Rev. Eugene Sheppard is founder of Lydia's House and chairman of the Far Southwest-Southeast Community Development Corporation (CDC), as well as founder and Senior Pastor of Living Word Church. Through his work and visionary leadership, Pastor Sheppard is addressing the spiritual, social and economic

deprivation that has plagued many of the low-income and at-risk families living in the District of Columbia.

Pastor Sheppard formed Lydia’s House in 1990 as a non-profit organization committed to Growing Children, Strengthening Families and Changing Neighborhoods. In 1991, Pastor Sheppard established Living Word Church to address the spiritual and emotional needs of the men, women and children living in far southwest and southeast neighborhoods known as Anacostia, Congress Heights, Bellevue and Washington Highlands.

In 1998, Pastor Sheppard founded and became chairman of the Far Southwest-Southeast Community Development Corporation (CDC) to help foster economic development and spur economic growth. By promoting Brownfield redevelopment and environmental stewardship, Pastor Sheppard believed that the Far SW-SE CDC could lay the foundation for job creation, affordable housing and neighborhood sustainability.

Through his efforts, Lydia's House and the Far SW-SE CDC opened 3939 "The Zone" in June 2003 officially marking the completion of a joint public-private effort to provide the residents of Ward 8 with video conferencing capabilities, three state-of-the-art computer labs, after-school youth programs, community rooms, and financial and housing counseling services for adults. "The Zone," allows Lydia's House and the Far SW-SE CDC to extend its reach into the community by providing social services and educational resources to help children and families compete and thrive in the 21st century.

Rev. Sheppard has been ministering 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 work 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 live in Bellevue and have five children and are the proud grandparents of 11 grandchildren.