Rev. Todd Matocha

Senior Pastor
Contact Todd

Todd grew up in South Texas and moved to Greenville in 2001 to train for ministry. While in Greenville he met his wife, Kathyryn. After completing seminary at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2005 the Matochas moved to Cardiff, Wales, where Todd served as pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church. While in Wales, Todd completed a MTh through the University of Chester, England. He wrote his thesis on the contributions of Cyril of Alexandria to classic Christology. In 2014 Todd accepted a call to Main Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, MS, where he served until returning to Greenville in 2021. Todd and Kathyryn are excited to be back in the Upstate. They have 5 children. Todd enjoys watching college football, playing sports with his children, hunting, and fishing.


Rev. David Griffin

Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Membership
Contact David

David hails from the state of Florida, being born at the McDill Air Force Base in Tampa in January of 1958.  In 1980 he graduated from Maryville College (Maryville, TN), where he came to faith in Jesus  Christ during his junior year.  David was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1985, having earned the  Master of Divinity Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, SC, where he met and later  married the former Sharon Bell.  In 1992, after they served a term of service as missionaries in Mexico,  David was called to be the pastor of the Covington (TN) ARP Church.  David has been serving the Greenville ARP Church since October of 2009 as the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care and Membership.  He and Sharon have three daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.  In his free time David enjoys working in the yard and exploring the Upstate’s waterfalls.  Also, the Griffins are fans of the University of Florida Gators.


Rebekah Harkins

Director of Children's Ministries and Interim Director of Youth Ministries
Contact Rebekah

In 2011, Rebekah graduated from Erskine College with a major in Bible/Christian Education. Rebekah began work as the Children's Ministry Coordinator at Greenville ARP Church in May 2014. She  enjoys spending time outdoors hunting and fishing, baking cakes, playing with her nieces, and drinking coffee.


T. J. Ellis

Director of Music / Administrative Assistant
Contact T. J.

T. J. Ellis, originally from Donalds, SC, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Church Music from Erskine College in 2007 and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Winthrop University in 2009.  He began serving as Director of Music at Greenville ARP Church in January 2012 and took on Administrative Assistant duties officially in June 2015.  In his free time, he enjoys cooking, exploring Greenville’s foodie scene, college football (Go Tigers!), attending local concerts, and spending time with family and friends.   


Evelyn Hargett

Accountant
Contact Evelyn

Evelyn Hargett recently joined the Greenville ARP Church office team, and serves the church in accounting duties. She holds an A.A. degree in Business Administration from Northern State University. Her business career includes managerial accounting functions in various organizations, including more than 12 years at another local nonprofit. She volunteers at several Greenville area venues, including her church, Greenville Theatre, and Greenville Literacy Association.

Evelyn has lived in the Greenville area since 2001. Born and raised in New Jersey, and having lived in South Dakota and Iowa, she is happiest when exploring all that the Southeast has to offer. She enjoys traveling with her husband throughout the U.S., hiking, camping, working out, and reading.


Cheri Owensby

Director of Children's Choirs
Contact Cheri

Cheri Owensby was born in New Orleans, LA. but moved to Greenville, SC with her family when she was in the 2nd grade. Cheri grew up attending various art schools in the region, including the Fine Arts Center, Brevard Opera Workshop, and the Governor’s School for the Arts. Cheri holds a degree in Voice Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia, and a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Cheri has taught elementary music and chorus in the Greenville County schools for 20 years, directs the children’s choirs at GARP, and is the music director for Bonclarken Music/Drama Camp in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Cheri’s husband, Mike, originally from Spartanburg, SC, is a registered nurse. They are the proud parents of two sons, Wyatt and Walt.


Erica Wingate

Coordinator of the GARP Day School
Contact Erica

DMP_2766.JPG

Erica Wingate grew up in Greenville and graduated from Erskine College (1999) with a B.S. in special education. She worked as a resource teacher at Buena Vista Elementary School and spent her summers tutoring and contracting with Greenville County Schools as an educational diagnostician. Erica resigned her position in 2004 to stay home with her newborn son and work as a private tutor.  Erica accepted the position of Day School Coordinator in the summer of 2017. She and her husband John have been members of Greenville ARP since 2001.  They have three children: Parker, Hadley, and Cullen.


David Coleman

Organist

Coleman Photo.JPG

David has been an organist for church congregations across the Southeast and Midwest for 23 years.  He is a native of Due West, SC where he was baptized and raised in the Due West ARP Church.  He received the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Indiana University in 2004 and the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, concentrating in piano and organ performance, from Erskine College in 2002. David has been the conference organist at the Bonclarken Music Conference and recently held a week-long residency playing the organ for the daily services at Bristol Cathedral in Bristol, England.   In 2012, David received the Doctor of Optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis TN, and he practices optometry and resides in Simpsonville.  He loves working outside in his yard, playing racquetball, enjoying great food, and making music.  


Hamilton Patrick

Director of Youth Ministries
Contact Hamilton.

Hamilton grew up in Due West, South Carolina where his family moved to do campus ministry at Erskine College with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). When he later went to Anderson University for his degree in English education, he became very active with RUF there as a student, leading Bible studies and serving on various ministry teams. Summer internships with White Oak ARP (GA) and Village Seven PCA (CO), as well as a brief teaching stint at Dixie High School, confirmed Hamilton's sense of calling to youth ministry. When Hamilton isn't in the office, he enjoys exploring Greenville, spending time in coffee shops, and gathering with friends for movies.