Our Staff

Tom Bennardo -- Lead Pastor
Tom Bennardo was born in New York City, uprooted to Indiana, and eventually traipsed through Chicago, Akron, and Los Angeles. He’s an avid sports fan, and a mediocre athlete whose past accomplishments grow larger in his mind with each passing year. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Grace College and an M.Div. from Grace Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, and a doctoral degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Tom and Marcia met at Grace and married in 1985. Together they are parents to two daughters, Lauren and Lindsey.

Tom served on staff at Grace College as Assistant Chaplain and Assistant to the Dean of Students from 1982-85. From there the Bennardo’s went to Akron, Ohio, where Tom was Pastor of Student Ministries at The Chapel in University Park, a large Independent church, from 1985 till 1993. In May of ‘93 they received an invitation from Glendale Community Church, a newly formed seeker-driven church in Southern California, and moved to the L.A. area where Tom served as Pastor until May of 1995. At that point they made the journey back to the Midwest to begin Life Community Church in Columbus Ohio.

Dan Burmeister -- “The guy who does the music”
Dan Burmeister was born in Bonn, Germany, and was raised in Sydney, Australia, and Uniontown, Ohio. He loves music, basketball, and golf. Having been defeated by the saxophone at an early age, he picked up the guitar at 15, much to the skepticism of his parents. After early gigs at nursing homes, camps, and youth groups, he decided to pursue leading worship.

Dan holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, and a Masters degree from Wheaton Graduate School. Dan served on staff at Bloomingdale Alliance Church in Bloomingdale, Illinois, from 1991-1996 where he was Pastor of Student Ministries and also Pastor of Music and Worship. In January of 1997, Dan and his wife Lara moved to Hilliard to join the staff of Life Community Church.

Dan is married to Lara (who is responsible for anything good that comes out of Burmeister males), and the father of two sons, Kip and Kai.

Larry Ely -- Youth Pastor
Larry was born in Whittier, California and grew up in Akron, Ohio. He graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where he earned a B.A. in Christian Education and a Certificate in Youth Ministry. Larry has worked in a variety of ministries, including Spring Hill Camp, Student Life, The Chapel, Youth For Christ, and started at LCC in 1997. Some of his favorites are: playing basketball, eating at Chipotle, driving his Jeep, listening to music (Toby Mac, Disciple, FF5, Skillet), watching movies, & cheering on the Green Bay Packers with his sons. Larry is married to his lovely wife Tina, and they have two boys Devon & Drayton.

J.R. Kennedy -- Kids' Pastor
J.R. Kennedy was born in, raised in, and at the rate it’s going will probably never leave Columbus. Serving in the role of Pastor of Children’s Ministries, J.R. joined the staff of LCC in July of 2005.

He has been working with kids in one capacity or another since the summer of 1998. He graduated from Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Bible. He wrote this bio himself, and wondered why he typed it all in third person. He also figures that most of this stuff really doesn’t mean a whole lot, but that his relationship with God does.

He and his wonderful wife, Rebekah, were married in 2003 and live in Plain City with their daughter Emma, son Ashton, and dog Puck.

Rick Tawney -- Cell Group Pastor

Sheila Tawney -- Director of Support Ministries
Rick Tawney was born in Henry Illinois which is nowhere near Chicago but he became an avid Cubs, Bears and Bulls fan anyway.  He grew up in Northern Ohio and went to college at the University of Akron where he met the infamous Tom Bennardo and was his intern for one year.  

Rick holds a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity International University and a Masters in Counseling from Philadelphia Biblical University. Rick has served as a Youth Pastor at First Baptist in Geneva IL, Church planter with Polaris Community Church in Lewis Center, and Pastor at Meadowbrook Christian Fellowship in Dublin.  Besides serving the Cell Group ministry at LCC he also is the Director of Coaching at WellSpring as well as a part-time Handyman. 

Rick loves to coach his kids’ teams and when possible hit the links or dominate on the basketball court.

Sheila Tawney is a country girl at heart.  She enjoys baking, having people in her home and hanging out.  She graduated from the University in Akron with a degree in Elementary Education.  Sheila taught fourth grade for a few years then had four beautiful children to stay home and raise.

Rick married Sheila in 1992-which still stands as his best decision-and they have four children, Micah, Keilah, Damaris and Isaac.

Bradley Reith - Church Plant
Bradley Reith was born and raised on the east side of Cincinnati OH. After graduating from HS he went to Cincinnati Christian University for his BS in Christian Ministry with an emphasis on Youth Ministry. After serving in Youth Ministry and Young Adult ministry a combined 15 years in both Cincinnati and Phoenix AZ Bradley sensed God's call to begin church planting. A series of divine interventions and family issues landed Bradley back in the Midwest to being church planting through LCC.

Bradley met and married Jamie in 1995. They have 3 children: Savannah, Camden and Maddy. Bradley enjoys Fishing, MMA cage fighting, NFL football, target shooting, off-roading, and other testosterone driven activities.