Love Jesus. Love Others. That’s all.

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Lead Pastors

David and Jeni Gerlach are the founding pastors of EVC. Jeni was born in California, but grew up in the Portland, Oregon area. David was born in Washington state, but grew up in the Salem, Oregon area. Jeni attended Multnomah School of the Bible and finished a bachelors in Education from Western Oregon State University. David attended Biola University and finished a bachelors degree in television production and film history at the University of Oregon. They were married in August of 1986.

After 11 years in Southern Oregon (Medford and Ashland), they moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee where David finished a 24-year career in television news. They first joined the Vineyard family at what was then known as the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Chattanooga back in the Spring of 2000. After serving that community and one of its daughter churches, they felt called by God to return to Oregon to plant a Vineyard church in Eugene in 2012. ​

Along with serving at EVC, they are also involved in the neighborhood public schools — Jeni as an elementary music teacher and David as a substitute custodian. David shepherds other pastors as a Vineyard (association of churches) Area Leader, caring for churches in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. David is also nearly finished with a Masters in Applied Biblical Leadership from Western Seminary in Portland. He has thoroughly enjoyed fresh studies in Bible, Theology, Soul Care, Team Building and Pastoral Care. Jeni is EVC’s worship leader and loves training young people in worship arts.

David and Jeni have 5 adult children, all married, and 6 grandchildren with another grandson on the way. Much of their free time is spent connecting with their family in the area and traveling to see out-of-town children and grandchildren, as far away as the UK. Both David and Jeni love being outdoors, gardening, going on walks together, dining out and taking long motorcycle rides through the beautiful Oregon countryside. They love Eugene and the southern Willamette Valley and plan to retire here.