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Village Church

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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) and 2 grandchildren.

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 and they have been married since 2010. They have 2 girls, Raylee and Rilynn. His favorite verse is Philippians 4:13.

Hamilton Mathis

Discipleship 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 and welcomed their daughter Raeleigh in 2024.

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.

Seth Wages

Student Pastor

Seth Wages joined the village church as Student Pastor in August 2025. Seth graduated from Columbia International University with a Bachelors of Arts in Youth Ministry, Family and Culture in 2023. Seth is married to his lovely wife Hannah Wages, and he has 1 son, Micah. Seth loves anything outdoors, hiking, fly fishing, camping. His calling is to reach the next generation, telling students about the love of Jesus, and challenging students to make Him known throughout the earth. 

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.

Toney Pressley

Building Superintendent

Toney joined the Village Church staff Fall of 2024. He has been a member of Village Church since 2014. Originally from Columbia, SC. His background started in sheetmetal, continued into sheetmetal fabrication as well as HVAC service. Also performed building maintenance for USC for a number of years. Toney has been married to his wife Becki since 1989. They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. 

Matt Ross

Technical Director

Bio coming soon!

Stephanie Dinsmore

Finance Office

Stephanie was raised in Portland Maine, graduating from Thomas College in 1995 with a BA in Accounting.  She moved to Blythewood South Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family.  Stephanie came on staff in March of 2023.  

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being an aunt to her nephew and niece, reading and cross stitch.

Greg Butler

Business Administrator

Greg is the Business Administrator for Village Church.  He and his wife Mandy grew up in Indiana, and along with their children, Shelby, Kailey, Evan, moved to South Carolina in 2006. Greg has been a Village Church member since 2009 and on Staff since 2024.  He is an Army Veteran, a graduate of Oakland City University (BS) and Indiana Wesleyan University (MS).

Kelly Steelman

Director of Village Women and Village Kid’s Admin Assistant

Kelly grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida and moved to South Carolina on a full academic/athletic scholarship to Newberry College, where she met her husband Kevin.  She got her Masters in International Business at the University of South Carolina and worked 6 years in International Marketing before staying home with their 2 children. She worked part-time during those years and volunteered at Village in various ministries.

Kelly served for 10 years with Bible Study Fellowship, including 4 as the Teaching Leader of the Columbia Evening Class, where she really gained a deep understanding of the Bible.  In 2022 she accepted a position in the Children’s Ministry and helps with marketing and communication, Segway, events and the Good News Club.  As a volunteer, she also oversees the Women’s Ministry, helps with Village Civics, Meal Ministry, and Palmetto Leads.  She has taught Bible at Village Christian Academy in its first 2 years.

Kelly and Kevin are recently empty-nesters and are enjoying their adult children and dog Bruno. They love travel, pickle-ball, spending time with their Village friends and family and serving Jesus.

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.

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.

Macie Hanna

Village Student Ministry Administrative Assistant

Macie graduated from Village Christian Academy in May 2024 and is currently earning her Associates Degree in Business Administration at Midlands Technical College. She and her family have attended Village Church since 2008 and she joined the Student Ministry team Summer 2024. Macie is most excited about growing the Middle and High School girl’s ministry and using Village’s social media platforms to expand outreach!

Nate Rabon

Student Ministry Intern

Bio Coming Soon!

Benjamin Fields

Security Director

My name is Ben Fields. I have been in both law enforcement and private security for the last 22 years. I served as a Richland County Deputy in Columbia, SC, for 12 years. During that time, I served as a patrol officer, SRT officer, SRO serving all three levels of schools, marine patrol officer, and FTO (Field Training Officer). During my 12 years at Richland, I received comprehensive training in active shooter response and handling various types of service calls. During my time as a deputy, I also coached football, basketball, and served as a strength coach at the high school level for 4 years. For the last 10 years of my life, I have served in the private security world. While there, I managed many accounts across North and South Carolina. I also served as a firearms, taser, CPI, pepper spray, and hospital instructor, teaching and training hundreds of officers. It is a blessing and an honor to now serve Village Church as your Security Director. 

Jen Reinhardt

Children’s Ministry Assistant

Jen Reinhardt grew up in southwest Virginia and received a B.S. in psychology from Radford University in 2007. She is an Air Force veteran and met her husband while stationed at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Jen and her family moved to South Carolina in 2019 and, upon her husband’s military retirement, decided to make this their permanent home. She became a member of Village Church in 2023 and joined the staff as a Children’s Ministry Assistant in 2024. Jen loves Jesus, homeschooling her four children, and traveling with her family.

Mandy Butler

Office Administrative Assistant

Bio Coming Soon!

Locations & Times

Village church sc

574 Rimer Pond Road
Blythewood, SC 29016
803.419.0989

Office Hours
Mon – Thur • 9am – 5pm
Fri • 9am – 12pm

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Service Times

Village Church SC
Sunday • 9:00 am & 10:30 am

LiveStream • 10:30am

Church Life

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Village Church

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