LEADERSHIP
STAFF
Erik Estep
Senior Pastor
Erik is the founding pastor of VillageChurch. He grew up in Oklahoma but moved to South Carolina as a senior in high school. He is a graduate of Spring Valley High School, Furman University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. During his time at Furman, Erik met Emily and they married in 1992. They have 3 children: Hank, Glyn and Janie.
Matthew Phillips
Associate Pastor
Downtown Columbia
Campus Pastor
Matthew Phillips is a native of Texas, but do not let that fool you because he was raised in Columbia, SC. This avid Gamecock fan graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2008 with a degree in Public Relations and has a Master’s of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Matthew has been on staff at Village Church since September of 2008. He is married to his better half, Emily, and they have two beautiful boys, William and Henry. They also have have a yellow lab named Tanner.
James Ballew
Worship Minister
James has been the Worship minister at VillageChurch since May 2008. He graduated with a BA in Music from the School of Music at the University Of South Carolina. He is married to Lauren Ballew whom he met while leading worship at Camp Longridge in Ridgeway, South Carolina. They have a little girl, Raylee James Ballew, born October 2018. James is also an avid Crossfitter at Crossfit Valor and loves to compete in local competitions when he can. His favorite verse is Philippians 4:13.
Hamilton Mathis
Student Pastor
Hamilton Mathis joined the Village Church staff as Student Pastor in November 2020. Hamilton graduated from Anderson University with a Bachelors of Arts in Christian Ministry and completed his Master’s of Arts in Christian Education degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2021. Hamilton and his wife, Allee, have been married since 2017.
Will Bonniville
Middle School Pastor &
Downtown Columbia Campus Worship Leader
Will was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina where he attended Blythewood High School and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2017 with a degree in Political Science. Will is now pursuing his Master’s of Divinity through Southeastern Theological Seminary. Will has been an intern at Village Church since 2013 and joined full time in 2018. Will is married to his wife Sally. When he has free time he enjoys fishing, playing guitar, and spending time with friends.
Amy Paolucci
Children’s Ministry Director
Amy was raised in Minnesota, graduating from St. Olaf college in 1997 with a BA in economics. She has a traveled extensively to include a one year exchange program in France, an internship at the American Embassy in Tunisia, and missionary trips to India and Thailand. Amy worked for a financial investment firm before moving to South Carolina. She is passionate about her relationship with Christ, her family, and the ministry at Village Church. Amy is married to her loving husband Ryan and they have three wonderful children, Paige, Grant and Reed who are all involved in the children’s ministry.
Dr. Wendell Estep
Staff Consultant
Dr. Wendell Estep
Staff Consultant
Many of you are familiar with Dr. Estep (Pastor Erik’s father) after seeing him preach on television as the pastor of First Baptist Columbia for 32 years. He grew up in Texas, served as a pastor for 50 years, and is the father of Stephanie, Erik, and the grandfather of 5. He and his wife, Lynda, have been a team for over 5 decades.
Mark Oxendale
Building Superintendent
Mark was raised in Pennsylvania, where he got his degree in Industrial Technology Management. He married his wife Cathy 30 years ago and raised 3 boys before retiring from his custom cabinet shop. Then moved to South Carolina in 2019. Mark came to know Jesus in 1992 and now desires to serve Him through maintaining the Village church Campuses in Blythewood and downtown Columbia.
Margaret Matthews
Administrative Assistant, Blythewood Campus
Bio coming soon!
Melissa Chambers
Administrative Assistant,
Downtown Campus
Bio coming soon!
Stephanie Dinsmore
Finance Office
Bio coming soon!
MargarMarte Thomaset Matthews
Student Ministry Assistant
Marte was born and raised in Columbia, SC. She received her Associates in Arts degree from Midlands Technical College and her BS degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration from USC. She has been married to her husband, Kevin, since 2001. She worked with Marriott International, the NC State University Club, and GMK Associates before becoming a stay-at-home mom to their three children: Allen, Mary, and Marshall. Marte and her family have been a part of Village Church since 2014, where she has served in many areas, including VBS crafts, children’s ministry, music ministry, and middle school small group leader. She joined the Student Ministry team in March of 2021. She loves spending time with her family and friends, working in the yard, and doing various home improvement projects in her spare time.
Kelly Steelman
Director of Village Women and Village Kid’s Admin Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Jennifer Hanna
Children’s Ministry Assistant
Jennifer was born in Charlotte, NC but has lived in Northeast Columbia for most of her life. She graduated from USC and earned a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. Jennifer has been an active member of Village Church since 2008 and has served in the student and children’s ministries. Jennifer came on staff as Children’s Ministry Assistant in 2016 and feels truly blessed to work alongside Amy Paolucci and all the amazing staff at Village Church. Jennifer has been married to her husband Brantley for 27 years, and they are the proud parents of four daughters: Maddie, Mollie, McKenzie, and Macie. When not at church, Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and friends, doing crafty things, and being anywhere near the ocean.
Jack Slayden
Downtown Campus Intern
Bio coming soon!
Hughes Butler
Student Ministry Intern
Hughes graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2019. He has been a part of Village Church since 2018. He is currently attending Columbia International University, where he is pursuing a certificate in Bible. He loves Jesus, the Gamecocks, all things sports and fishing on Lake Murray. He is the nephew of Erik Estep and the grandson of Wendell Estep.