Leadership

ELDERS

Jonathan Davis

Jonathan (JD) lives in Jacksonville, NC with his wife, Jennifer, and five kids Cody, Keegan, Kale, Chloe, and Kinsley. JD has been serving in the Pillar network since it began in 2005.

The Davis family has had the privilege of being a part of five church plants since that time, three of them from their inception. They have a desire and passion to see the gospel spread through church planting efforts all over the world. In May of 2019, JD began the transition from full-time vocational work to full-time pastor of Pillar Church Jacksonville. JD has a passion for pastoral ministry, leadership development, and various discipleship ministries.

Brian O'Day

Brian lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Kelli, and five children: Dani, Kristlyn, Trey, Nate, and Ameena. Brian served for nearly 10 years as an active duty Marine that included deployments to fifteen countries including Iraq and Afghanistan. While stationed in Quantico, VA in 2010 and attending Pillar Church in Dumfries, Brian was called to plant Pillar Church Jacksonville. Pillar Jax began in Brian and Kelli’s home on January 6, 2013. In May of 2019, Brian began a transition from full-time pastoring with Pillar Jax to the role of Executive Director of The Praetorian Project. Brian holds a Masters of Divinity in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has a passion for preaching God’s Word, discipling men, foster care/adoption, and counseling marriages.

Jonathan Gentry

Jonathan lives in Jacksonville, NC, with his wife Rachel, and children, James and Savannah. Jonathan grew up in Georgia and currently serves as an active-duty Navy Chaplain aboard Camp Lejeune. Before becoming a chaplain, Jonathan served in local church ministry. He holds a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry and a Master of Theology in Preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is working on becoming a Certified Biblical Counselor through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. Jonathan is passionate about faithfully preaching God’s word, Biblical counseling, Biblical theology, and helping fellow believers grow in their faith.

DEACONS

Andy and Kristen Miller

Andy and Kristen live in Hubert, NC. They have been married for 17 years and have three kids – Grace, Faith and Zac.

Andy and Kristen met when they were children. Andy’s family was pursuing missionary work in NYC, and Kristen’s grandparents were members of the missionary board at their mutual church. Andy and Kristen grew up together as members of North Jersey HomeSchool Association (NJHSA). After high school, Andy joined the Marines and Kristen continued work as a nanny. They started dating shortly after Andy graduated boot camp.

After 20 years of service in the Marine Corps, Andy retired and is pursuing work in banking management. Kristen spent the last 24 years as a nanny/caregiver. Their family has a love for the outdoors, board games and music, and each family member plays at least one instrument.

Both of them have a strong desire to serve the Lord by any means possible, and are humbled and eager to serve their church family at Pillar Jax. They enjoy serving in the music ministry and children’s ministry, as well as leading a community group in their home.

Eddie and Mariko Benjamin

Eddie and Mariko live in a suburb north of Jacksonville and have been married for 24 years.

Together they lead and host the East Jacksonville Community Group and the Young Adult Group. Eddie is the Deacon in charge of Pillar Jacksonville Audio/Visual ministry and leads a team of volunteers who manage the soundboard and slides for Sunday worship services. He and Mariko oversee support for our members who happen to be single mothers and widows. Mariko assists with communication with our Japanese members and between the local Japanese Ministry Action Group (MAG) and the church.

Eddie and Mariko also served as part of the core planting team for the Pillar Topsail church in 2020. Both Eddie and Mariko are faithful members and feel blessed to serve at Pillar Jacksonville.

Daniel, Leslie, and Noah Snyder

Daniel and Leslie live in Jacksonville, NC and have two children, Megan and Noah. Daniel is a retired Marine with 28 years of active-duty service and now enjoys remodeling and managing rental properties. Leslie is a registered nurse and homeschooling Mom of 12 years. They both serve in various ministries for youth including Trail Life USA and STOA Homeschool Speech and Debate.

Daniel and Leslie serve as Deacons of Building and Grounds, and their son Noah serves as one of the worship leaders for Pillar’s music ministry

Vinnie and Tara Curley

Vinnie and Tara live in Richlands, NC. They met during college and were married in 2014. They have four children & a baby due in June 2023.

The Curleys have been attending Pillar Jax since 2017. Vinnie serves as one of the worship leaders & enjoys the role immensely. Together, Vinnie and Tara also serve as deacons at Pillar Jax. They work to ensure that various supplies are stocked in the buildings for events and services throughout the week. They also host the Richlands community group and the local Camp Lejeune OCF group in their home during the week.

They have become passionate about serving the Lord with an open home, and they rejoice in every opportunity to make their home and the church’s spaces a welcoming and comfortable place for people to gather in the Lord’s name.