Our Leadership — Lacey Bible Church

Our church is led by a team of elders. We currently have three serving elders - two volunteers (Aaron Barton and Bud Clark) and the Lead Pastor (Jonathan Walton).

The elder team has equal leadership responsibility and addresses matters of policy, priorities, vision, and mission. The team also proposes budgets, protects, and shepherds the church body.

If you need to contact one of these elders, you can do so by filling out an online hello card below, or their emails and phone numbers are also printed on the back of the church program each week.

Elders

Aaron Barton is a husband, father, engineer, and, most importantly, a devoted follower of Christ. He holds a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and an electrical engineering degree from the University of Washington. After a 25-year career as an electrical engineer at Intel, where he designed and debugged microprocessors, he retired in 2021 to home-school his two children through middle school. Relocating to Olympia from Colorado in 2021, Aaron enjoys spending time with his family, hiking year-round in the mild PNW climate, and golfing with his dad and son.

Bud Clark is a husband, father, and grandfather who has been at Lacey Bible Church for over 30 years. He was born in 1950 in Massachusetts. He has a bachelor degree (Math) from Michigan State University and a masters degree (Public Administration) from Webster University. He was an active duty Army officer for 20 years before settling in Lacey. After the Army, he served as a middle school teacher for 24 years. He has served as an elder for 30 years, teaching Bible classes, filling in for the lead pastor during vacations, and as interim between full-time pastors. He enjoys teaching the Bible, especially examining how the Old Testament helps bring the New Testament into clearer focus, AND vice versa.

Jonathan Walton was born in October, 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the second of four children. His parents, being first generation Christians did their very best to raise Jonathan and his siblings in the way of the Lord. He was saved at the age of 6 years old, and at a young age, Jonathan felt a great desire to serve the Lord in ministry, particularly as a pastor. He responded to that desire as he served the Lord in church growing up. He sought to learn more by attending Pensacola Christian College, and graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries. He has served as a Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor over the last 12 years. In October 2018, Jonathan met the love of his life, Chauntel, and together they have three daughters.

Pastors

Associate Pastor of Worship

Nolan Valz was born in September 2000 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the first of three children, one younger brother and sister. Raised in a Christian home, Nolan and his family were active members of a small church in Kentucky. In middle school, he received his calling from the Lord at a middle school conference. It was there that he knew he would serve God in whatever role he was called to. After graduating high school, Nolan continued his education at Cedarville University where he graduated in 2022 with a degree in Worship Ministry. During that time, he realized that his faith wasn’t his own, so he rededicated his life to the Lord and was re-baptized. After his newfound calling, Nolan served in various worship-related roles in different churches throughout his college career. Nolan began his journey in ministry on staff in 2022. Nolan met his wife, Grace, in 2020. After graduating college in 2022, they got married in January of 2023. Grace and Nolan have two cats, Jabba the Cat and Nala. The Lord brought Nolan to Lacey Bible Church as Associate Pastor of Worship in December of 2024.