OUR TEAM

Ever wonder how life's toughest moments can become your greatest testimony? For Matt and Claudia Stephens, redemption isn't just a word – it's the vibrant reality they live every day. They each carry powerful stories of trials overcome and triumphs celebrated, stories they are eager to share with you.

Imagine a family overflowing with love and laughter! Matt and Claudia are the proud parents of eight incredible children – five energetic sons and three wonderful daughters. Through the joys and challenges of raising a large family, God has uniquely equipped them to bring a message of genuine hope and encouragement to others.

For nearly three decades, Matt has excelled as a corporate leader in the fast-paced telecommunications industry. But his heart has always beat for the church. For the last 20 years, he's poured his passion into music ministry, insightful teaching, powerful preaching, and intentional discipleship. Formerly, he served as a dedicated bi-vocational Men's Pastor, empowering men to step into their roles as spiritual leaders within their homes and a blessing to their families.

Driven by a deep desire to see our church thrive, Matt, now ordained in the Vineyard movement is currently studying at Trinity Seminary, building on his biblical studies from Indiana Wesleyan University. As our lead pastor, his vision is clear: Vineyard Christian Church will be a healing hub (mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally and relationally) – a place where minds find clarity, bodies experience care, spirits are renewed, and souls discover profound peace in relationship. His motto is that “love shouldn’t just be something that we do, it needs to be who we are”. He and Claudia are passionate about creating opportunities for our church family and the wider Whitehall/Columbus/Reynoldsburg communities to encounter the transformative love of Jesus in an environment that feels safe, welcoming, and truly like home. Pastor Matt has coined this phrase, “Not everyone can do every-thing but everyone can do some-thing.”

But Pastor Matt's commitment to serving doesn't stop at our church doors! In an extraordinary display of dedication, he has recently become one of the newest chaplains for the Reynoldsburg Police Department (Class of 2025). Now certified in crisis response and Mental Health First Aid, Pastor Matt is ready to offer comfort, support, and crucial mental health and spiritual assistance wherever it's needed, serving our communitiy and our brave First Responders.

Alongside Matt's unwavering commitment stands Claudia, a Licensed Practical Nurse with a heart for healing. Currently pursuing her degree in Psychology/Social Work, Claudia channels her compassion into action as a national advocate for domestic abuse survivors and a certified family peer support specialist. Her dedication to trauma-responsive care is evident in her volunteer work as a crisis life coach and as a trained Stephen Minister.

Driven by a deep desire to see others experience the same freedom she has found in Christ, Claudia founded and leads Steps of Hope Inc., a remarkable non-profit ministry dedicated to serving women and children. She also leads a vital weekly peer support group called H.O.P.E. - Healing Our Past/Present Experiences, offering a safe space for connection and growth.

Ready to connect with a community led by such passionate and dedicated hearts?

Discover more about Vineyard Christian Church: https://www.vccoh.com/who-we-are

Meet Pastor Matt and Claudia in person at our next service: https://www.vccoh.com/

Find out how you can get involved in our community outreach: https://www.vccoh.com/allin

We believe your story matters, and we'd love to connect with you!