Meet our staff.


Jeff Newman, Senior Pastor

Jeff is first and foremost a husband to his wife Sandra, a father to four grown children (two daughters and two sons) and a proud grandfather of two grandchildren, Noah and Kate. Jeff also has a deep love and commitment to the Austin Vineyard where he has served for 20 years.

Jeff attended Azusa Pacific.  He then met his wife Sandra while traveling as a professional musician. He has been pastoring full-time for 30 years and is the founding Senior Pastor of the Austin Vineyard (for the full story, see "About Us"). Jeff also serves as an Area Pastoral Coordinator in Texas for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and as an Alpha Regional Advisor.


Elaine Brendler, Small Groups, Administration and Membership Pastor 

Elaine has been part of the Vineyard for 15 years though her roots are in England in the Anglican Church.  She worked there as a youth worker, and for InterVarsity for a number of years and then for the International Fellowship of Evangelical students in the Middle East.  During that time she lived in Jerusalem for nearly 6 years and had her first child, Hannah, there.  Elaine moved to the USA in 1988 and  her son Joshua was born shortly after the move.  Before joining the staff of the Vineyard, Elaine worked for a family resource center in SE Austin for 8 years as a child development specialist and as a parent educator working with high needs families, foster parents, and pregnant teens. Having been a single parent for 17 years, Elaine remarried in June of 2007 to Bill Brendler. She has been on the staff of the Vineyard for approximately 8 years and loves this church family where she and Bill both serve.  She has 2 children, Hannah and Josh, and 3 beautiful grandchildren, Abigail, Cameron and Bruce Daniel.

Tony Miller, Worship Arts Pastor

Tony is a native Texan and moved to Austin in 2006 to serve as Worship Pastor on staff at the Austin Vineyard. Prior to his move he served as Pastor of worship arts and Pastor of mercy ministries 4 years at the Vineyard in Overland Park, KS. While in Kansas, he graduated from VLI (Vineyard Leadership Institute) and was ordained as a pastor. Tony began his ministry as a worship leader / pastor at the Nashville Vineyard in Nashville, TN where he served on staff for 7 years. While living in "Music City" his worship team recorded 2 CD's, one of which was purchased and distributed worldwide by Hosanna Integrity Music. As a songwriter, Tony has songs published with Hosanna Integrity and Vineyard Music, and continues to write songs of worship for use in his congregation and abroad. He also serves as a worship consultant for various churches who need assistance in developing worship leaders. Tony is also a professional drummer and plays and teaches drum lessons regularly around the Austin area. Tony is happily married to his wife Crystal and they have 2 awesome kids; Hannah and Aaron.

Chip Smith, Pastor of Assimilation

Chip Smith is an ordained minister through Youth with a Mission and has served in several ministries in Central Texas and served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He moved to Austin to serve as the associate pastor at his father‘s church in Round Rock and to transfer from Western Washington University to the University of Texas, where as a music major was in the Longhorn Marching Band. It was here in Austin that he met and married Diana and they have been married for 30 years. They have two sons, Ryan and Trevor. Diana and Chip are also dog trainers and dog lovers having several dogs of their own and have run a successful dog training business in the Austin area for over 25 years. The puppy in the picture is Chip’s dog, Scout, a Papillion. Chip was originally on staff at The Austin Vineyard as the Youth Pastor in the early 90’s and recently came back on staff as the Pastor of Assimilation, helping guests at the Austin Vineyard feel at home here, get settled in, and grow in their relationship with Christ and the church. He also serves as an administrative assistant.  Chip not only has a passion to see individuals become fully developing members of the Body of Christ and The Austin Vineyard, but also loves to cook and sing karaoke!