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Ministry Staff (Listed by department)
children's ministry · community center · evangelism · executive pastor · Fruit of the Vine (urban & mercy ministry) · high school & middle school · Joshua House (young adults) · men · missions · marriage & family · Recovery/Support Groups and Lay Counseling · senior pastor · small groups · VLI · women's ministry · worship & arts

Children's Ministry
Linda Heselton, Pastor
In 1974, Linda and her husband Craig were one of the couples who started the church that became Vineyard Church of Columbus. Linda led a woman’s group for ten years prior to coming on staff as the children’s ministry coordinator in 1989. In 1995 she became a Children’s Pastor. Through the years, Linda has had the opportunity to see the church and the children’s ministry be established and grow, and she has “grown-up” with it. She currently leads the VineyardKids staff in ministering to children. Linda and Craig are parents to four grown children.

 
  Our Staff links:  
ministry staff  
office and operations staff  
counseling staff  

614.259.5324
Linda.Heselton@vineyardcolumbus.org

Sherry Abel-Chapin,
Children’s Ministry Coordinator for Joshua House
614.259.5386(voicemail only)
s_abel@juno.com

Beth Best, Nursery Ministry Coordinator
614.259.5402
Beth.Best@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kandy Boyd, Administrative Assistant to Linda Heselton
614.259.5305
Kandy.Boyd@vineyardcolumbus.org

Barb Castanien, Childcare Coordinator
614.259.5386
Barb.Castanien@vineyardcolumbus.org

Karen Campbell, Curriculum Writer
614.259.5362
Karen.Campbell@vineyardcolumbus.org

Josie Grim, Administrative Assistant to Mike Szlapak
614.259.5413
Josie.Grim@vineyardcolumbus.org

Candy Johnson, Children’s Ministry Worship and Arts Coordinator
614.259.5406
Candy.Johnson@vineyardcolumbus.org

Melissa King, Baby Dedication Ministry Coordinator
614.259.5398
Melissa.King@vineyardcolumbus.org

April Murphy, Volunteer Coordinator
614.259.5442
April.Murphy@vineyardcolumbus.org

Mike Szlapak, Grade school Children’s Pastor
614.259.5317
Mike.Szlapak@vineyardcolumbus.org

Pam White, Pastoral Coordinator for Early Childhood
614.259.5375
Pam.White@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Community Center
Kerry Davis, Pastoral Director, Vineyard Community Center
Kerry Davis Has been involved with Vineyard Columbus since 1993, and joined the staff in August of 1998 as middle school pastor, adding oversight of the high school ministry in 2004. He has overseen the neighborhood outreach program since its beginning. Kerry is married to Nancy and has three children.

614.259.5502
Kerry.Davis@vineyardcolumbus.org

Will Shearer, Executive Director, Vineyard Community Center Will has been attending Vineyard Columbus since the beginning of 1999. He is married to Noelle and they have three children. Prior to joining the Community Center staff, Will was a partner in the Columbus office of the Baker & Hostetler Law firm, where he practiced business law. Will graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and received his bachelor's & master's degrees from Clemson University, where he was captain of the Varsity Golf team.

614.259.5501
Will.Shearer@vineyardcolumbus.org

Carol Achmoody, Administrative Assistant, Health Clinics
614.259.5512
Carol.Achmoody@vineyardcolumbus.org

Dee Bennett, Administrative Assistant to Neighborhood Outreach
614.259.5251
Deidra.Bennett@vineyardcolumbus.org

Maria Broeckel, Education & Grant Coordinator
614.259.5296
Maria.Broeckel@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kevin Brown, Pastoral Coordinator for Neighborhood Outreach
614.259.5461
Kevin.Brown@vineyardcolumbus.org

Nikki Mills, Academic Coordinator
614.259.5244
Nikki.Mills@vineyardcolumbus.org

Debra Griffin, Director, Early Childhood Center
614.259.5447
Debra.Griffin@vineyardcolumbus.org

Heather Hart, Administrative and Family Relations Assistant to the Vineyard Early Childhood Center
614.529.5448
Heather.Hart@vineyardcolumbus.org

Jason Pierce, Director, Health Clinics
614.259.5511
Jason.Pierce@vineyardcolumbus.org

Dawn Stickel, Administrative Assistant to Community Center
614.259.5503
Dawn.Stickel@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Evangelism & Connect Ministries & Men's Ministry
Stephen Van Dop, Pastor
Stephen Van Dop is the Pastor of Evangelism and Connect Ministries at Vineyard Columbus. Prior to joining the staff at VCC he served as a pastor in the Reformed Church of America (RCA) for fourteen years. Currently he coordinates large outreach events, weekend visitor hospitality, visitor follow-up, new believer follow-up, Newcomer's Class, Baptism events, church marketing and conducts evangelism training. Additionally, Stephen is involved in short-term missions to Central Asia. He also serves as a member of the Senior Pastoral Team. He has completed degrees at Hope College, Western Theological Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary. Stephen and his wife Susan have been married over 20 years and have three children and two canoes.

614.890.0000
Stephen.Vandop@vineyardcolumbus.org

Corey Garris, Pastoral Coordinator for Men's Life and Church Planting
614.259.5255
Corey.Garris@vineyardcolumbus.org

Mandi Grohoske, Connect 1 Coordinator
614.259.5384
Mandi.Grohoske@vineyardcolumbus.org

Linda McPherson, Administrative Assistant to Connect 1
614.259.5360
Linda.McPherson@vineyardcolumbus.org

Roxi Larsen, Pastoral Coordinator for Evangelism Ministries
614.259.5364
Roxi.Larsen@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kristi Hickman, Evangelism Department Ministry Coordinator
614.259.5304
Kristi.Hickman@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Executive Pastor
Craig Heselton, Pastor
A lifelong resident of Columbus, Craig was one of the founding leaders in 1974 of the church that became the Vineyard Church of Columbus. He received both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Ohio State University. Prior to entering fulltime ministry in 2002, Craig was involved in the fine chemical manufacturing industry for 29 years where he was most recently the General Manager of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. As a lay leader, Craig was involved in small group ministry, short-term missions and as a teacher in various contexts in the church, including the Holy Spirit Weekend Retreats. As Executive Pastor, Craig is responsible for the operations of the church, overseeing the staff and working closely with the leadership team. In addition, Craig serves as a member of the Senior Pastoral Team. Craig and his wife Linda, who is the Children's Ministry Pastor at Vineyard Columbus, have been married for 30 years and have four grown children.

614.890.0000
Craig.Heselton@vineyardcolumbus.org

Sue Burkett, Pastoral Coordinator to Empowered Life Ministries
614.259.5379
Sue.Burkett@vineyardcolumbus.org

Jeff Baker, Bookstore Ministry Coordinator
Jeff.Baker@vineyardcolumbus.org

Diane Bauman, Pastoral Coordinator for Volunteer Ministries
614.259.5318
Diane.Bauman@vineyardcolumbus.org

Ginny Short, Administrative Assistant to Diane Bauman
614.259.5316
Ginny.Short@vineyardcolumbus.org

Frank Kay, Architect
Frank.Kay@vineyardcolumbus.org

Joanne Kay, HR, Event and Office Administrator
Joanne.Kay@vineyardcolumbus.org

Ben Rosen, Director of Operations
Ben.Rosen@vineyardcolumbus.org

Heinz Tschannen, Executive Chef and Food Service Director
Heinz.Tschannen@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Fruit of the Vine (Urban & Mercy Ministry)
Dan Franz, Urban and Mercy Ministries Pastor
Dan Franz is a pastor on staff at Vineyard Church of Columbus, and has overseen their urban and mercy ministry for the past 10 years. This has included a free medical clinic and food pantry, several outreaches to the homeless community, prison ministry, senior ministry, and other outreaches. Dan also served as a registered nurse at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C., for several years, and was involved in church outreach in Brooklyn, N.Y. for 2 years. He is grateful to be married to his wife Carol, for his 4 children, and 10 grandchildren.

614.259.5336
Dan.Franz@vineyardcolumbus.org

Patricia Mason, Pastoral Coordinator
614.259.5302
Patricia.Mason@vineyardcolumbus.org

Rhodie Shreve, Administrative Assistant
614.259.5441
Rhodie.Shreve@vineyardcolumbus.org

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High School and Middle School
Chris Traut, Youth Pastor
Chris grew up as part of a large, devoted Catholic family in North Ridgeville, OH, a small but growing town on Cleveland's west side. Sunday church and 12 years of parochial schools gave Chris a solid foundation of Christian history and tradition. While attending The Ohio State University, Chris had a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. After graduating from OSU's school of Allied Medicine in Physical Therapy, Chris involved himself in the Physical Therapy profession full time for four years, after which he joined the Vineyard Staff, in particular his long-time friend Eric Pickerill and the Joshua House Staff. He married his love, Chantelle, on September 11, 1999 , and they welcomed their first son Jackson Christopher in January 2004. He is passionate about food, live music, dinners out, nature, BBQ and seeing generations encounter the grace, truth, and presence of the Living God.

614.259.5357
Chris.Traut@vineyardcolumbus.org

Alen Auguste, Pastoral Coordinator for High Schoo
614.259.5355
Alen.Auguste@vineyardcolumbus.org

Dave McPeek, Pastoral Coordinator & Camp Director
614.259.5404
David.Mcpeek@vineyardcolumbus.org 

Brett Evans, Interim Pastoral Coordinator
614.259.5404
Brett.Evans@vineyardcolumbus.org 

Sarah Hyatt, Administrative Assistant to Youth Events
614.259.5341
Sarah.Hyatt@vineyardcolumbus.org

Alicia Streicher, Administrative Assistant to Chris Traut
614.259.5383
Alicia.Streicher@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Joshua House (Young Adults)
Jonathan Rue, Pastor

Jonathan grew up in the Vineyard movement in Southern California. No, Jonathan doesn't surf. He went to San Diego State University and earned a degree in Comparative Literature before completing a Master of Divinity at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena. In 2006, God rescued Jonathan out of the torments of the beach, the mountains, and perfect weather and has brought him into the promise land of Columbus, Ohio! Jonathan has a passion to see God's kingdom come in power in the lives of young adults in Columbus and the world.

614.890.0000
jonathan.rue@vineyardcolumbus.org

Tara Arcade, Joshua House Ministry Coordinator
614.259.5415
Tara.Arcade@vineyardcolumbus.org

Amanda Nash, Pastoral Coordinator for Small Groups
614.259.5371
Amanda.Nash@vineyardcolumbus.org

Karen Wilson, Joshua House Small Groups Administrative Assistant
614.259.5367
Karen.Wilson@vineyardcolumbus.org

Chris Meekins, Pastoral Coordinator to Campus Ministry and the JH Service
614.259.5288
Chris.Meekins@vineyardcolumbus.org

Jeff Anderson, Worship Coordinator
Jeff.Anderson@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Marriage & Family Life
Ron Hitchcock, Pastor
Ron relocated from Anchorage, Alaska to the Columbus Vineyard in the summer of 2003. He has been a youth pastor, abstinence educator, state manager for Promise Keepers and current president for Alaska Men's Ministries, and the Family Pastor at Faith Christian Community where he has served since 1995. Ron has a passion for family ministry and would like to write on the subject of marriage and family more extensively. His philosophy of ministry is to serve the Body of Christ with nothing placed above the call to “love one another.” Ron is married to Barbara, “a woman of great energy, and abundant joy” and they have two children.
  
614.259.5378
Ron.Hitchcock@vineyardcolumbus.org 

Staci Yoder, Administrative Assistant to Ron Hitchcock
614.259.5390
Staci.Yoder@vineyardcolumbus.org

Stan Carlyle, Team Builder
614.259.5237
Stan.Carlyle@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kelli Messick, Pastoral Coordinator
614.259.5395
Kelli.Messick@vineyardcolumbus.org

Judy Niemie, Parent Partnership Coordinator
614.259.5393
Judy.Niemie@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kathy Biondi, Wedding Administrator
614.259.5388
Kathy.Biondi@vineyardcolumbus.org

Ken Warren, Pastoral Coordinator
614.259.5412
Ken.Warren@vineyardcolumbus.org
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Missions
Mark Batcheck, Pastor
Mark has been involved in world missions since he was 20 years old.  He is a servant and leader with experience in teaching, pastoral ministry, missions program development and cross cultural ministries both here and abroad.  He graduated from The Ohio State University and holds a M.A. from Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL.  He served as a pastor, teacher and mission director at another local Columbus church for 7 years.  Mark and his family spent four years in the mission field doing church planting ministry in Southeast Asia.  Mark and his wife Kristin have two children.  

614.890.0000
Mark.Batcheck@vineyardcolumbus.org

Sara Nauman, Administrative Assistant
614.259.5369
Sara.Nauman@vineyardcolumbus.org

Tim Briscoe, Pastoral Coordinator to Missions
614.259.5407
Tim.Briscoe@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Senior Pastor
Rich Nathan, Pastor
Rich Nathan is senior pastor of Vineyard Church of Columbus, Ohio, a church of more than 6000 weekend attenders. Prior to entering full-time ministry, Rich taught business law at The Ohio State University for seven years. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and received his law degree from The Ohio State University in 1980.

Rich has written two books: Empowered Evangelicals, which he co-authored with Ken Wilson, and Who is My Enemy? Welcoming People the Church Rejects (Zondervan). He is currently working on his third book. He is a frequent conference speaker nationally and internationally. Rich and his wife, Marlene, have been married for over 25 years.

614.890.0000
Rich.Nathan@vineyardcolumbus.org

Shelley McWherter, Executive Assistant
614.259.5313
Shelley.Mcwherter@vineyardcolumbus.org

Insoo Kim, Research Assistant
614.259.5416
Insoo.Kim@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Small Groups
Bill Christensen, Associate Pastor
Bill lived in Morocco for 11 years before taking a position on staff with the Anaheim Vineyard in California, where he assisted John Wimber. He took a position with Vineyard Columbus as Administrative Pastor in 1997 and became the Executive Pastor in 2000. In early 2002, Bill stepped into his new role as Associate Pastor. He oversees the English as a Second Language program and is developing the area of international ministry in our church. Bill serves as a member of the Senior Pastoral Team. Bill is married to Dottie and they have three great kids.

614.890.0000
Bill.Christensen@vineyardcolumbus.org

John McNeal, Coed Small Group Pastor
John graduated with his degree in architecture from The Ohio State University in 1997 and met his wife, Erin, while working at an architecture firm after college. John and Erin first began attending the Vineyard in 2000 and were married here in 2002. Together they co-led a small group before beginning a new small group downtown close their home. John began VLI in 2004 where he began an internship with Small Group Ministry. After graduation in 2006 he became Pastoral Coordinator in Small Group Ministry before being named Pastor in 2007.

614.259.5245
John.McNeal@vineyardcolumbus.org

Beth Crawford, Bible Study Writer and Editor
614.259.5349
Beth.Crawford@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Support and Recovery Ministry

Mark McCarthy, Pastor
Mark has been a professional counselor for more than 20 years. He has a Masters of Divinity and a Masters in Biblical Counseling and is a licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. He has been married to his beloved wife Kathy since 1985 and they have two teenage children. Mark has enjoyed leading, teaching and shepherding small groups with Kathy for over 20 years. He is passionate about seeing the Holy Spirit bring healing and wholeness to people's lives. He despises elevators and so climbs the many flights of stairs to his office, multiple times a day. He loves throwing football with his son, playing basketball, tennis and taking long walks with his wife.

614.890.0000
Mark.McCarthy@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kathy McCarthy, Pastor
Kathy was raised the daughter of a seminary professor and got a great foundation in the faith. She graduated with a Masters in Education and a Masters in Biblical Counseling. While attending seminary she met her husband, Mark, and they've been married 23 years and have 2 teenage children. They fell in love with Jesus in a whole new way when they came to Vineyard Columbus in 1993. Kathy has previously been in a pastoral role and has counseled part-time for many years. She enjoys anything beautiful, whether it's the flowers in her garden, the woods, cooking a gourmet meal, a good book, or time with friends. Best of all, she loves seeing God's love capture someone's heart.

614.890.0000
Kathy.McCarthy@vineyardcolumbus.org

Christina Wurdack, Administrative Assistant
614.259.5289
Christina.Wurdack@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Vineyard Leadership Institute
Steve Robbins, Pastor & Director

Steve Robbins was converted to Christ at age 17 where he was very involved with the Jesus Movement in Southern California. Steve attended three Bible Colleges and Fuller Seminary to earn a B.A. in Religion, M.A. in Biblical Studies and Theology, and has received a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Fuller Seminary. While getting his education Steve was an associate pastor for two years, planted his own church 23 years ago, has helped plant several other churches, was appointed to the Vineyard Board of Directors by John Wimber, and has done Vineyard conferences in 4 continents. He is the Vineyard Leadership Institute (VLI) Director with Vineyard Church of Columbus based in Columbus, Ohio. Steve also serves as a member of the Senior Pastoral Team. Steve has been married to his wife Nancy for over 30 years and has two daughters and one granddaughter.

614.890.0000
Steve.Robbins@vineyardcolumbus.org

Jeff Augustine, Pastor & General Manager
Jeff was the high school youth pastor from 1997 until 2004. He was active in youth ministry for a total of 12 years here and at the Vineyard in Anaheim, California. Jeff has a Masters of Theology from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. In addition to being the VLI pastor and general manager, Jeff oversees the Funeral Ministry and Staff On Call for VCC. He is married to Christine and has three young children.

614.890.0000
Jeff.Augustine@vineyardcolumbus.org

Jennifer Peat, VLI Administrator
614.259.5417
jennifer.peat@vineyardcolumbus.org

Kyle Benedetti, VLI Video Production Supervisor
614.259.5321
Kyle.Benedetti@vineyardcolumbus.org

Randy McClure, VLI Registrar
614.259.5410
Randy.McClure@vineyardcolumbus.org

Carol Shelton, VLI Administrative Assistant
614.259.5391
Carol.Shelton@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Women's Ministry
Marlene Nathan, Pastor
Marlene was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She came to Christ through the ministry of Young Life while in high school. She attended college at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and was active in InterVarsity. While there, she met Rich and they were married after sophomore year. Upon graduation, they moved to Columbus for Rich to attend OSU Law School. Marlene worked as a social worker. Thirteen years ago, Rich left his position as a professor of law at OSU's Business College and began pastoring the Columbus Vineyard. Marlene has spoken at conferences and meetings, led small groups and written bible studies and teaching materials for the church. In 1998, she had a bible study on the Holy Spirit published by NavPress. Rich and Marlene have been married for over 25 years and have two children.

614.259.5297
Marlene.Nathan@vineyardcolumbus.org

Sara Carlisle, Pastoral Coordinator
614.259.5397
Sara.Carlisle@vineyardcolumbus.org

Connie Houchins, Pastoral Coordinator
614.259.5330
Connie.Houchins@vineyardcolumbus.org

Deborah Scott, Ministry Coordinator
614.259.5348
Deborah.Scott@vineyardcolumbus.org

Liz Ward, Administrative Assistant
614.259.5335
Liz.Ward@vineyardcolumbus.org

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Worship & Arts
Clarence Church, Worship & Arts Pastor
Clarence came to the Vineyard in February of 2008. He came to the Lord at age 16 while living in Germany with his mother and has been ministering through music ever since. After graduating from High school in Germany, he attended a small 2 year Christian college in Cleveland TN and finally received his Bachelor's Degree in Music from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh PA, with an emphasis in Recording and Music Technology. Clarence's cross cultural background has birthed a passion to see people from various walks of life encounter the presence of God through praise and worship. As a gifted song writer, producer and studio vocalist, he has been featured on many recording projects over the years. Clarence has been married to his wife Jody since 1991 and has three wonderful children.

614.259.5354
Clarence.Church@vineyardcolumbus.org

Laura Katerberg, Administrative Assistant
614.259.5310
Laura.Katerberg@vineyardcolumbus.org

Larry Miller, Pastoral Coordinator to Worship & Arts
614.259.5422
Larry.Miller@vineyardcolumbus.org

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