Staff
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Kevin Pike, Lead Pastor
kevins.admin@eastlakeonline.com
Kevin has been the Lead Pastor at East Lake since 2002. With a B.A. from University of California at Irvine in Philosophy and as Master of Divinity from Regent College in British Columbia, Kevin served as an Associate Pastor for several years in Southern California and Seattle and moved to Columbia to become a senior pastor in 1997. His wife, Julie, and their four children, Josh, Andrew, Kate, and Nikki keep him very busy. Kevin is also the author of "Life With God".
- Favorite band: The Beatles
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Greta Shealy, Administrative Assistant / Director of Lifeline
greta@eastlakeonline.com
Greta came to East Lake in 1999, and joined the Administrative staff in August 2007 as Kevin Pike’s Assistant. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at MUSC in 1986 and has been the Congregational Health Nurse at East Lake since March 2005. She also serves as Director of the Lifeline Ministry. Greta and her husband Jim have been married 22 years and have been blessed with four amazing children - David, Lauren, Andrew and Katie.
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Erik Ely, Executive Pastor
erik@eastlakeonline.com
Erik Ely became the Executive Pastor at East Lake in March 2007. He received a B.A. in Bible from Appalachian Bible College. He is married to his wife Renee, and together they have three strapping young lads: Seth, Luke, and Micah.
- Favorite Movie: Anything with Tom Hanks
- Favorite Food: All
- Favorite Restaurant: See Above
- Favorite Place to be outside of work: Anywhere quiet with an occasional amusement park sprinkled in
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Whitney Harris, Administrative Assistant to Executive Pastor
whitney.harris@eastlakeonline.com
Whitney joined our staff in June 2008 and serves as Erik Ely's Executive Assistant. Whitney has attended East Lake since 2005 with her two children: son, Adrian who is nine years old and daughter Raquel who is seven. She attended USC and is also bilingual in Spanish translations. She enjoys cooking, playing piano and singing, hanging out with her kids and friends, traveling, outdoor music festivals, blues music, camping and football (Cowboys and Gamecocks). She is also involved in ACTS Metro as Director of the Swap Shop at Harbison West Elementary.
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Brian Dimbath, Connections Pastor
brian.dimbath@eastlakeonline.com
Brian has served as the Connections Pastor at East Lake since November of 2007. As the Connections Pastor, Brian works primarily with small groups, hospitality teams, and baptisms but also oversees a number of other ministries. He received his B.S. in Biblical Studies and a minor in Preaching at Cincinnati Christian University where he met his beautiful wife, Kelly. Brian and Kelly were married in 2003 and are expecting their first child in January.
Cooking, listening to jazz, watching college football on Saturday and doing projects around the house (not all at the same time) are some of the things Brian enjoys doing. Brian and Kelly love to have friends over to play cards, games, and watch movies.
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Deborah Phipps, Family Pastor
deborah.phipps@eastlakeonline.com
As our Family Pastor, Deborah Phipps leads the staff of our preschool, elementary, junior and senior high ministries. Happiest when she has too much to do, Deborah also shepherds our women's ministry. Her passion is teaching and helping children and adults "get" the message God has for them in his Word.
Her hobbies are telling students they can't skate without helmets and calling lights out at midnight at sleepovers. Her education includes a Masters Degree in Communication, but sometimes she thinks her TaeKwonDo training may be more useful! Deborah has been at East Lake since December 2002, but she really loves her job and would like to stay on staff until she retires some 20 years from now. She won't put her favorite movies on here (though she'll be glad to tell you in person if you ask her).
On Sunday afternoons you are likely to run into Deborah and her husband, Charles, and their three kids (Kathryn, Jonathan and Laura) at Sun Ming. If you see them there, please stop and introduce yourself; the kids always behave better when other people are around!
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Barry Russell, Senior High Pastor
barry@eastlakeonline.com
Barry has been the full-time youth director at East Lake since May of 2005. He graduated from Columbia International University with a B.S. degree in Youth Ministry and Bible, and with a minor in Outdoor Leadership. He is married to Nikki, who he says is "a righteous fox for a wife", and has been married for six years. They have two amazing sons named Isaac and Eli. Although he can not decide on a favorite movie, he does know that it would have to be a surf movie. His favorite food, as well, seems too difficult to nail down; apparently there are so many incredible morsels to choose from. But if you decided to take him to Taco Bell, Hot Dog Heaven, or Outback, there would be no complaints. Among Barry's favorite activities are surfing, skating, playing disc-golf, and hanging out as much as possible with Nikki, Isaac, and Eli.
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Trevor Miller, Junior High Youth Pastor
Trevor.Miller@eastlakeonline.com
Trevor Miller joined East Lake staff in September as our new Middle School Pastor. He attended Taylor University for one year before transferring to Columbia International University and graduating with a Youth Ministry major and Outdoor Leadership minor. He is currently engaged to a beautiful young woman named Jenna Owens! He is marrying over his head... gladly. Trevor enjoys playing guitar, backpacking, fly fishing, rock climbing and watching football. His favorite food is.... food. So feel free to bless his soul by blessing his stomach. Trevor is overjoyed to be at East Lake and to be a part of the Middle School Ministry there!
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Sam Pinelli, Director of Elementary Ministries
pinelli@eastlakeonline.com
Sam Pinelli joined the East Lake family ministry team in Feb 2006. Her fantastic organizational skills and love for children make her a valuable part of this ministry.
Mrs. Sam is the "go to" person for all things elementary around East Lake. She and her husband, Tim, have a son, TJ, and daughter, Nicole. Sam's favorite books are anything by Nicolas Sparks; her favorite restaurant is Carrabbas; and her favorite place to be outside of work is spending time with her kids.
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Jan van Amerongen, Creative Director for Elementary Ministries
jan.van@eastlakeonline.com
Jan joined the East Lake staff in October of 2007. He has a couple degrees you won’t find on most church staffs, having completed both his B.A. and M.A. in Theatre Arts. After spending 8 years as an actor and director in theatre, Jan is thrilled to have the opportunity to combine his passion for Christ with his gifts in the theatre as the Creative Director of FamJam. He also serves as the Creative Director for Surge, East Lake’s Elementary School ministry.
Jan has an amazing wife, Lindsay, who works every bit as hard as he does, and three precious and unique kids who remind him that this life isn’t about him. He also has a special place in his heart for Shakespeare, Greek tragedies, and Arthur Miller and would rather watch soccer than any other sport. He’s always on the hunt for great restaurants, so if you have ideas, let him know!
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Jennifer Sykes, Administrative Assistant to Family Ministry
feel.free@eastlakeonline.com
Jennifer Sykes joined the administrative team at East Lake in January, 2007. She and her husband David have been married for 30 years. They have two wonderful children: Brandon and Ashley, who has two beautiful daughters, Caleigh and Alona.
Among others, Jennifer's favorite movie is It's a Wonderful Life. She adores hamburgers, so her favorite place at present to consume these delectable entrees is 5 Guys. She enjoys the beach, not only for its beauty, but also because she finds it to be a place where she can sit back and find rejuvenation. Her hobbies include reading, yard work (really), and working with power tools!
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Jeff Coleman, Worship Arts Pastor
jeff@eastlakeonline.com
Jeff joined the church staff in February of 2003. He is married to his wife Heather and they have three amazing young-uns: Josh, Jordan, and Jillian.
- Favorite Movie: Amadeus and Princess Bride
- Restaurant: Sun Ming, and Carrabas
- Place: Rocky Mountains
- Hobby: What's a hobby?
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Amy Ward, Administrative Assistant to Worship Arts
amy@eastlakeonline.com | 803.606.4803
A member of East Lake since August of 2000, Amy serves as a vocalist on the praise team, a member of the Creative Team, and co-leader with husband Ken of a small group that meets on Sunday evenings. Amy has been on staff as an Administrative Assistant since August of 2006. Ken and Amy have two daughters, Lea and Lyn.
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Melissa Watson, Director of ACTS Metro
actsmetro@eastlakeonline.com
Melissa Watson joined our staff in June 2005. She is currently Director of the ACTS Metro ministry. Melissa is originally from Irmo and has worked in ministry for the past nine years. She is married, and has a sixteen year old son. Melissa is passionate about her community and spends her spare time hanging out with the youth, her family, helping others with organization, and serving Jesus.
- Favorite Movie: Dramas or musicals
- Favorite Food: Seafood
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Leadership Structure
East Lake is overseen by our Oversight Team and led by our Staff Team.
The responsibility of the Oversight Team is to set and keep the vision of the church. The team directs the church through making decisions related to the direction, personnel, programs and strategy. Responsibilities of each member of this team include the following:
- To guide, direct, guard and protect members of the body; to provide a scriptural role model and set a pattern of orderly life.
- To see that the church body is fed through insightful biblical instruction and admonition.
- To refute those who contradict the truth.
- To oversee the life of the church with the assistance of other godly leaders.
- To pray for the spiritual well being of members of the church body.
- To handle issues of church discipline.
- To provide direct oversight to the Senior Pastor.
LEAD PASTOR
The Senior Pastor is the point person of staff and is a serving elder on our elder team. He is a primary teacher and ultimately has responsibility for the ministries of the church. He, along with the elders, is responsible for setting and keeping the church on course with the purpose and vision for which God has called us. His life should reflect that to which he is inviting others to pursue.
PASTORAL STAFF
The responsibility of the staff is to lead the ministries of the church in conjunction with the vision, purpose and goals of the church. The primary job of the staff is to equip the people of East Lake to carry out the ministries of the church - not to do the entire ministry themselves. The staff also has the equally important job of spiritually nurturing the leaders involved in their particular ministries. Ultimately the staff is responsible for the health and effectiveness of the individual ministries of the church.
ADMINISTRATIVE / FINANCE TEAM
While Scripture indicates that elders bear the ultimate responsibility for the spiritual watch-care of the church, the Administrative Team will be specifically delegated by the Oversight Team to oversee legal and financial matters and provide for the care and maintenance of any properties owned by East Lake Community Church.
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