meet pastor kim
Pastor Kim Dorr-Tilley began her career in the entertainment industry as a casting director and went on to form her own talent agency. She started attending Bel Air Church in 1993 when she first came to faith following a life-changing invitation from a close friend.
She was ordained at Bel Air Church in 2005 to lead a ministry with those working in the entertainment industry. Beacon, as it was called, ran for over a decade and was one of Bel Air Church’s most successful ministries to date.
Pastor Kim lives in North Hollywood with her husband, Bob, who is an amazing presence on our campus and frequently volunteers with us on sundays and at special events.
We recently sat down with Pastor Kim to ask her several questions:
Q: DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR PROFESSION, OR DID IT CHOOSE YOU?
I’ve had three different careers in my adult life and all of them definitely chose me. From being a casting director for TV to being a talent agent to being an ordained minister – I hadn’t planned for any of these! Even before I knew Jesus as my Savior, God was out ahead of me, guiding His plans for my vocations. I had opportunities that I said yes to before I knew where they would lead or what they would become. I am beyond blessed for all these different paths and the ways they’ve converged.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY VACATION?
In October 2007, a few years after my mom had passed away, my dad organized a trip for my remaining family… my brother, my uncle (my dad’s brother), and a couple of his closest friends. He wanted us all to go to Churchill, Manitoba – “the polar bear capital of the world.” Churchill is a tiny town that just happens to be where polar bears gather before the Hudson Bay freezes over for winter. There are eco-responsible “tundra buggies” that take a group out and let you observe these amazing animals in their habitat. I’ve always shared a deep love for nature and creation with my dad. This trip was something he wanted to give to all of us – a deep piece of himself and what he loved. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I’ll never forget standing outside on the back of the buggy with tears streaming down my face as I watched a mama bear walk into the sunset with her cub.
Q: WHO IS YOUR HERO?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His story of wrestling with how his faith was meant to interact with events happening in the world captured me from the first time I heard of him. Bonhoeffer, as a follower of Christ, thought one of the highest values of his faith was his commitment to pacifism. His family got him out of Germany as Hitler rose to power and started putting together the Nazi war machine. They knew Dietrich wouldn’t fight and would likely be imprisoned as a traitor to his country. But once safely away in New York, Bonhoeffer felt strongly that he could not stand for his God or for his country from a safe distance. He chose to go back to Germany and began working with the underground resistance movement against Hitler. He decided not to be right but to do right. He gave his life in witness to his faith and in love for the soul of his beloved country.
Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
I love to play Blackjack! (I’m the annoying one at the table who wants to get to know the players and the dealer, cheers for everyone who gets 21, and yells, “double down on that!” when anyone has 11 with their first two cards.)
Q: WHAT MAKES BEL AIR CHURCH SO SPECIAL TO YOU?
Bel Air is the church community that discipled me in knowing Jesus, helped me hear God calling me to ministry, and then called me to ministry. It’s the only church I’ve ever known as my home.