Our Staff
Rev. Jitae Park, Pastor
I was born in Korea into a Christian family and grew up in the Korean Methodist Church. After a profound spiritual experience in which I felt the powerful presence of God, I decided to become a pastor. My goal is to preach the gospel, help people come to faith in Christ, and transform the world through the church.
I graduated from the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, Korea, and was ordained as an elder at the Seoul Annual Conference in 2007. I later studied Christian worship at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. During my time at Garrett, I expanded my understanding of the diversity of faith and theology. I also developed a passion for enhancing the congregation’s sense of justice through worship and for integrating issues of faith and justice within it.
My wife, Hyejung Hwang, is a UMC pastor. We have two children, Hasom and Habom, as well as a dog named Nory and a cat named Cookie. In my free time, I enjoy camping with my family and friends, biking, and cooking. Sharing food with loved ones is one of my favorite activities.
pastorlee@valleyumc.org
515/225-8128 (office)
515/218-1376 (cell)
Leighton Richards,
Administrative Coordinator
Leighton Richards, Administrative Coordinator, is a native of Virginia. She graduated from Washington and Lee University and Drake Law School. She practiced law in Virginia for several years before moving to Des Moines in 2012 with her husband, Mike, and three children, Maggie, Fletcher, and Sam. Leighton enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and watching sports.
office@valleyumc.org
515/225-8128 (office)
Karen Hutzell, Organist
Karen has been a hired church organist since 1957, when she was a sophomore in high school. When her classmates were getting paid for babysitting, she was making music for the church! She has served in this capacity at Valley for nearly 20 years. She has also served as accompanist at the Des Moines Playhouse and for Dowling High School in Des Moines. When the Dowling choir travelled to Rome in 1995, Karen had the thrill of getting to play the pipe organ for mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Not many organists get that privilege! Karen lives in West Des Moines with Larry, her husband of sixty years. They have a grown son and a grand-kitty. Karen keeps showing up at the organ because, she says, “It’s the way I worship.” Each time, before worship, she prays, “Help me do this for your glory.”
Bob Gowdey, Choir Director
Bob has been playing piano since the 3rd grade, and the organ since the 7th grade. Bob performed administrative work in the Air Force from 1966-1970. In 1975 Bob graduated with a degree in Secondary Music Education with a Piano minor from Texas A&I University. He worked at the University of Texas at Austin for 30 years, retiring in August 2013. He relocated back to Des Moines to be closer to relatives in May 2015 and has been a member of Valley UMC since 2022.
Bob has years of experience teaching, directing, and playing music across many denominations for various churches throughout his career. He survives his husband of 25 years, who sadly passed away on July 19, 2018 after battling cancer for 3 years.
Bob enjoys meeting new members and attending services here at Valley UMC.
Anthony Nguyen, Accountant
Anthony holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Economics in Vietnam, an Associate Degree of Accounting from Des Moines Area Community College and a Master of Accounting from Drake University.
With many years working in the for-profit and nonprofit accounting industry, Anthony has discovered his passion in numbers. “Accounting is my career,” he says, “not just a job for earnings.” He enjoys digging into issues for solutions and procedure improvements and building a clean and healthy financial system that provides leaders with reliable and informative data for decision making.
Outside of work, Anthony loves playing badminton, working out in the gym and travelling around the world.
Kim Tyrrell
Nursery Coordinator
Melissa Williams
Custodian
Valley United Methodist Church
4201 Ashworth Road
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
515-225-8128
