our team

Want to get to know our team? Our lead co-pastors are Ron Vandever and Michael Buttacy.
The leadership at Emmaus is made up of pastors and elders who oversee the direction and vision of the church.
Each staff member brings his or her own unique gifts to shepherd, counsel & minister within this church body.

Ron & Jessica Vandever

Co-Lead Pastor/Elder Couple
Connections Minister

As a kid growing up in Walla Walla, Washington, I experienced the mighty power of Christ in my life. Even though I did not start regularly attending church until I was 14, God showed Himself to me when I was just 4 years old. Somehow the creator of the universe showed me, at a young age, that He had great plans for me.
Being a part of Emmaus is an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing in other areas of Springfield and other places around the world. I believe that the church exists to show the great power, love, forgiveness, and mercy of Christ. I believe that with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and grace of Christ, we will see great things at Emmaus and I am just thankful to be a part of the amazing mystery of life.

Contact Ron or Jessica

Michael & Wendy Buttacy
*Co-Lead Pastor/Elder Couple*

Hailing originally from Long Island, New York, I am a proud husband and father of two amazing children. After feeling called to ministry years ago, I obtained my undergraduate in theology, a masters in business, and was eventually ordained with the Assemblies of God. I have served the Emmaus church body over the last decade through worship, VBS, and serving on the elder board.
I want to see the lost come home, the broken find hope, and the called step into the fullness of what God has called them to do. I know what the Lord has done in my life and the freedom I have found in Him and I want everyone to find that same peace and hope. I am humbled to be a part of this amazing church and can’t wait to see what God has in store for the future

Contact Michael or Wendy

Daniel Meade
*Worship Pastor + College Ministry*

My mom gave me Jesus as a kid, so I never knew a life without knowing about God. However, my whole life I treated God as a master that sometimes responded to a list of wishes that I had. One night, Jesus decided to encounter me in a real way during worship in a living room of someone’s home. Knowing about God turned into knowing God himself. Through encountering him, Jesus called me to worship through music. My passion in worship is to give God the same passionate love that He first gave us. I want to be a vehicle that allows God to give his heart to his children. Also, I believe that worship is far more than a song, it’s a lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle that always brings me in to alignment with my destiny. Emmaus has always been a place for me to encounter the heart of God. Even in seasons where I was called away from Emmaus, I couldn’t help occasionally stepping in and seeing what God was up to. It’s a huge honor for me to be a part of the lives at Emmaus. I’m excited to fuel a culture of worshippers that carry the throne of God into this Earth as it is in Heaven.

Contact Daniel

Quinlan Meade
*Communication/Media Minister + College Ministry*

It often feels like a dream come true to be able to serve on the ministry team here at Emmaus, in communication and media. I feel passionate about this field, as well as creatively, effectively and prayerfully communicating all that this church body is up to. I had the privilege of studying Communication Studies in grad school, as well as serving as an intern here at church before coming on staff (and serving with our kickin’ worship team with my husband, Daniel). Growing up, I knew all of the things that we were taught in Sunday School. Who Jesus was, what he did, what I was supposed to do in return. It wasn’t until my last few years of high school that I feel like I truly met him. My anthem since then has been that there is radical hope. This hope is tangible. It is powerful, loving, unwavering and oh so present – and his name is Jesus. My prayer is that we would be obedient vessels, doing our daily best to pursue him back, to say yes to all that God is working on in our lives and in the global body of Christ.

Dillon & Taylor Durk

Youth + Local Missions Pastors

I was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois. After being dragged to youth group by my friend when I was 16, I quickly found out that youth group was the place for me. I had been in and out of churches as a kid, but nothing ever clicked with me. Eventually, I made the decision to be an atheist and that there was no God. After 16 years of not living for the Lord, I finally began to understand that He is real, and that He wanted a relationship with me! I graduated from youth group soon thereafter and went on to attend college in Springfield, Missouri where I met my beautiful wife Taylor. Taylor studied worship in college and I studied youth ministry.

My heart for the next generation stems from all of the love and discipleship my youth pastor offered me. Without her, I’m not sure where I would currently be regarding my faith. I want to offer the same opportunity to the students at Emmaus and all over Springfield. I believe that every student deserves to be seen, heard, and loved. I truly feel blessed to be a part of this team and that Taylor chooses to serve alongside me for life.

Contact Dillon

Josh & Haiden Stipp
*Children's Pastor*

My walk with God started over VeggieTales and singing of the love of Jesus. I grew up learning about Him and through the years God has revealed Himself in ways to assure me that He is personal and comes in close to His children. We are all in need of grace and God can use anyone and anything to share His message. He outgrows all the boxes we could put Him in. Because I was mentored and poured into at a young age I have found my passion of shepherding and raising up children in the love of Jesus. For the past several years I have worked with kids of all ages through an after school ministry and preschool classes. I am excited to share the authentic love and truth of Jesus to the children of Emmaus and have lots of fun in the process.

Contact Josh

Aaron & Abbie Scobee

Rise Intermediate Pastor

I have been blessed with a relationship with Jesus since I was 10, an amazing wife, and two children. California born, but Missouri raised; I grew up as 1 of 8 siblings. My parents took me to church every other Sunday and after lacrosse practice I rode with friends to Wednesday Night Youth Group. Abbie and I first served together Tuesday mornings before school in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Later, in college, God showed us what evangelism looked like through a campus ministry called CRU. It was through these teachings (and convictions of the Holy Spirit) that led me into a born again relationship with Jesus in 2021. My passion for serving came from the ashes of a church body that reluctantly had to close its doors. I served in youth ministry for 2 years before coming to Emmaus and I’ve had the privilege to serve in youth ministry ever since. Now, I have the honor of shepherding the next generation of believers through Rise (5th & 6th Graders).

Contact Aaron

Elders

The role of elder at Emmaus is to focus on the theology, vision, and staff/leadership relations of the church. Our elder team is composed of couples - each husband and wife bringing their wisdom and discernment to the table, with the husband as the spiritual covering of the home. Our elders gather regularly and pray over our church body.