Our Pastor
Mark Rouse
Mark serves as the Lead Pastor and is responsible for the overall leadership and vision of the church. He and his wife Rebecca were married in 2005, and along with a handful of great people, Epic Church was launched in the fall of 2013.
A graduate of Daemen College with a BA in Elementary & Special Education, Mark was a 4th grade teacher for three years before going into ministry. He’s been in ministry since 2005 and was ordained through The Journey Church (New York, NY) and the Free Methodist Church of North America.
Mark is passionate about leadership and helping others discover their purpose and potential.
Our Staff
Mark Rouse
Lead Pastor
Ray Hammond
Executive Pastor
Christel Arslanian
NextGen Pastor
Joe Santiso
Worship Pastor
Rebecca Rouse
Next Steps Director
Amanda Bunz
Executive Assistant
About Ray
My name is Ray, and I oversee the administration areas of the church. It’s a great privilege to serve in God’s church and to lead people in becoming all-in followers of Jesus. My wife, Lisa, and I have two children: Jonas & Ava. Originally from near Pittsburgh, PA, I’ve lived in Western NY since 2001. I enjoy running, the outdoors, music, photography, reading and ice cream.
About Christel
I have the privilege of leading our Next Gen Ministries (Birth – 12th Grade). I grew up in Rochester, lived in NYC for 9 yrs & in 2013, moved back to WNY to help launch Epic Church! I will never get tired of seeing people transformed by Jesus & helping them to become more like Him. As an enneagram 4, I love enjoying God’s creation with my rescue dogs, working on DIY projects, and finding any outlet to express my creativity.
About Joe
I’m Joe, and I have the privilege of serving as the Worship Pastor here at Epic. I love helping people take their next steps in worship and creating environments where they can meet with Him. My wife Grace and I have an awesome son named Judah and a baby girl named Ruby. I enjoy all things music, learning, computers, reading, and dessert. I really like dessert.
About Rebecca
My name is Rebecca Rouse, and I serve as the Next Steps Director at Epic Church. I’m passionate about helping people take next steps in their faith, and I love watching people grow as disciples of Jesus. Mark Rouse (Lead Pastor) is my husband and we have two daughters, Kaia & Olivia. I love the beach and being in the sun. I also enjoy asian cuisine, reading a good book, and spending time with my family and friends.
About Amanda
My name is Amanda, and I serve as the Executive Assistant at Epic Church. I was born and raised in Buffalo NY. I love spending time with my family and friends, adventuring around WNY, and all things Disney. It excites me to see people find faith and become ALL-IN followers of Jesus.