
staff
Our
Meet
Ben Koch, Lead Pastor
ben@austinvineyard.org
Ben and Sarah Koch felt called to Austin and moved down from Ohio to come on staff in 2014. Ben worked as Associate Pastor and then became Lead Pastor in 2016. He and Sarah have 3 children, Jasmine, Madeline, and Levi, and love getting into nature, road trips, and finding new places to explore around Austin.
Elaine Brendler, Associate Pastor
elaine@austinvineyard.org
Elaine is our resident “Brit” and has been on staff for more years than she can remember. She is an Associate Pastor and currently overseas a wonderful team of children’s ministry volunteers, our hospitality teams, and our Alpha courses. Helping both children and adults feel "at home" in the Vineyard, discover their gifts and grow in their faith and their love for Jesus is an incredible privilege and joy for her. Elaine has been married to Bill for 11 years, and she has 2 children and 4 brilliant grand-children.
Tim Rushing, Compassion Pastor
tim@austinvineyard.org
Tim Rushing joined the staff in February 2016 after retiring from 31 years in the corporate world. He is passionate about studying the Bible and received his Bachelor of Biblical Arts degree. He and his wife Kathy have operated the church food pantry since 2007. Tim focuses on reaching the community through tangible acts of kindness and has expanded his missions focus with a recent trip to India. Tim and Kathy have been married for 14 years and enjoy vacationing at the beaches in Mexico as well as hiking in the Colorado Rockies. They have five children and eight grandchildren between them.
Lexi Rinehart
Executive Administrator
Lexi is passionate about the details and joined our staff in 2016 to support the pastors. She and her husband Paul and their two daughters joined the Austin Vineyard in 2011 when the Northeast Austin Vineyard merged with the Austin Vineyard. Lexi began following Jesus as a teenager growing up in Austin in the Epsicopal church. She loves learning about global missions, enjoying Saturday morning breakfast with her family, cheering for her kids at swim meets, and watching Texas Aggie Football!
Rick Evans, Executive Pastor
rick@austinvineyard.org
Rick was invited to join the Vineyard staff in January, 2018. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 43 years and have 3 grown daughters and 3 awesome grandkids. He is passionate about connecting people with and watching them grow in small groups. He enjoys “Jeeping” with those he loves. Whether it’s a date night with Lisa or piling his grandkids into the backseat, they pop the top and remove the doors and blast into a warm, sunny Austin day together without a care in the world!
Tony Miller, Worship Pastor
tony@austinvineyard.org
Tony Miller, his wife Crystal and their two children have been members of the Austin Vineyard for years and he re-joined the staff in 2018. Tony was born into a musical family and started “making noise” himself at age 4. Tony became a believer in high school, and as he began to grow in the Lord, he knew the call of God was on his life. He toured on the Christian music circuit for a time, but felt called to serve the body in leading worship. Tony is a talented drummer who is active on the Austin music scene. He loves pawn shopping, martial arts, studying theology and pizza.
Jeff McBride, Staff Pastor
McJeff@austinvineyard.org
Jeff and Pam joined the Austin Vineyard in 2011 when the Northeast Austin Vineyard merged with the Austin Vineyard. Jeff joined the staff as Youth Pastor in June of 2011 and currently serves as Staff Pastor. He and Pam have one son, Will, and love serving together at the Vineyard. Jeff grew up in Michigan where he met his native Texan wife, who promptly moved them back to Texas! Jeff, Pam and Will are in the planning stages of launching a new Vineyard in East Round Rock.
"Sarah and I are passionate to see our city flourish and desire to see everyone step into the adventure of following Jesus in the kingdom of God"
