About Us
Our goal: To Build disciples and churches who go, grow, and overcome.
Go
Every ministry in our church is continually seeking to bring the gospel of Jesus to our friends, family, neighbors, city, and world. This is our mission because it is Jesus’ mission. It is our identity.
Grow
From our baptism services to our Q & A podcast, we intentionally grow together as a church as we learn more about who Jesus is and our role as believers in the world.
Overcome
When we follow Jesus’ mission to go and grow, we are faced with powerful resistance. With God’s Spirit living in us, we have His power to overcome the world.
What We Believe
The Bible
God
Humanity
Salvation
The Church
The End Times
Cultural Issues / Relationships
Leaders
Our Staff
Michael Fuelling
Lead Pastor
Also oversees: Church planting, and preaching
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
Currently Reading:
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Matt Soules
Pastor of Ministries
Also oversees: Student Ministries and Facilities
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Tami White
Also oversees: AWANA & VBS
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Vikki Basinger
Communications Manager – Bartlett and Central Services
Hometown:
Arlington Heights, IL
Family & Education
Vikki has been attending Village Church with her husband & children since 2017. She received her Bachelor’s degree in communications & marketing from Taylor University, and her master’s degree in organizational development & communication from Gonzaga University. Vikki loves helping Village Church and our ministries inform and inspire action through all our digital, spoken, & written media.
Favorite Drink:
Coffee or Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
Currently Reading:
God’s Battle Plan for the Mind, by David W. Saxton & The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile
On My Playlist:
Everything from Broadway tunes, to Chopin, to Aerosmith, to Hillsong.
Enneagram Type:
They tell me I’m a 3.
Sara Yun
Connections & Groups Director
Hometown:
Idaho and Virginia
Family & Education
Sara has been attending Village Church of Bartlett since early 2019. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Theater at the University of Idaho. After graduating she worked in Theater Ministry and as a Project Manager in telecommunications. Sara and her husband John have been married since 2001. They have three teenage children, Shaun, Caleb, and Hannah.
Favorite Drink:
Coffee..Strong : )
Currently Reading:
In the middle of many books. I enjoy Biographies, any book on WWII and historical fictions.
On My Playlist:
Praise, Classical, Opera, Big Band and many more styles.
Enneagram Type:
Undetermined
Josh Freddy
Production Manager
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Marina Menconi
Worship Ministry Manager
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Nikki Jones
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Tara Romsaithong
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Scott Dyck
Communications Assistant
Hometown:
Wichita, KS
Family & Education
Scott has been attending Village Church since moving back to the area in 2015. He received his Bachelor of Aviation Flight Technology from Purdue University, and now works as a pilot for American Airlines. He and his wife, Sara have been married since 2005. They have two daughters – Lizzy and Eleanor.
Favorite Drink:
Grande dark roast in a venti cup with extra cream
Currently Reading:
Mostly podcasts, like: “The Art of Manliness,” “Business Wars,” Enneagram Journey.” I hope to read Irresistible by Andy Stanley in 2020.
On My Playlist:
Shane & Shane’s “Worship Initiative” albums, Ben Rector’s “Magic,” “Dear Evan Hansen Soundtrack”
Enneagram Type:
1 (social)
Bethany Thomas
Communications Assistant
Hometown:
Family & Education
Bethany has been attending Village Church since her birth in 1987. She has been married to Jonathan for 11 years and they have three children: oliver, 5, Juniper, 3, and Harriet, 10 months.
Bethany studied exercise kinesiology and has a Diploma in Herbal Studies.
Favorite Drink:
Currently Reading:
Charlotte Mason, always something C.S. Lewis.
On My Playlist:
Hillsong People Album
Enneagram Type:
Don’t know for sure.
Holly Lueders
Hometown:
Family & Education
Favorite Drink:
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Elders
John Shales
Directional Team Elder
Michael Fuelling
Directional Team Elder
John Nawrocki
Directional Team Elder
Deacons
Marv Starzak
Deacon
Tim Stinger
Deacon
Jeff Antioho
Deacon
Ministry Directors
Kevin Chandler
Men's Ministry Director
Lisa Lewis
Women's Ministry Director
Breanne Fuelling
Counseling Director
AJ Loredo
Local Outreach Director
Tim Stinger
Prayer Director
Jon Tuck
First Impressions Director
Jeff Antioho
Global Outreach Director
Carissa Dahik
Global Outreach Director
Our History
Village Church was founded in 1973 by seven like-minded families meeting in their homes for Bible study. After meeting for 3-4 months, the group felt called by God to plant an official church with the mission of being an evangelical witness to the Bartlett community.
The bible study grew as other families began to attend and catch the vision. For the next 3 years, the Village Church of Bartlett held Sunday services at the local elementary and middle schools as home bible studies continued. During this time, the church hired its first full-time pastor who served the church for 3 years. Since the church had more youth than parents, they hired a full time youth pastor that same year.
When it was time for the church to start thinking about a building, they held their first fundraising dinner called the Harvest Dinner. The funds raised at the dinner were used to buy five acres of land along West Bartlett road. During these years attendance was consistent: 60 people in the morning service, 60 people in the evening service, and 60 people on Wednesday evening.
Many of the materials used to construct the first building were donated or provided at cost. Members and friends of the church also donated much of the labor. The building was completed in 1976 with a large multi-purpose room surrounded by small classrooms. During this time, the church hired a young pastor, Jim Mooberry, who shepherded the church for almost 25 years as he faithfully taught the Word of God. The church continued to grow both physically and numerically under his leadership.
In 1988 the cornerstone was laid for the next church expansion. The project included a new sanctuary, offices, classrooms, and remodeling of the existing space. Again, volunteers supplied much of the labor for the building.
In 2001, the Village Church hired its next Teaching Pastor, Don Yates. Under Don’s leadership along with a growing staff and leadership, the Gospel and Word of God were protected and preserved for another generation.
2008 began another revamping and refocusing of the Village Church’s mission, values, and ministries. God has used this most recent season of transition to unify and strengthen our body by His grace. With a renewed focus, God called Michael Fuelling to serve as our Lead Pastor in 2010. Michael had served as Youth Pastor since 2003.
Village has gone through countless changes since then- building renovations and new leadership- but the core of who we are has stayed the same for 45 years. We want to be a church who builds disciples and churches of Jesus who go, grow, and overcome.