A Word from our Pastor

    The stories of our lives fascinate me. Life is full of critical decisions and moments when we change course, often not knowing where that will take us. As a kid I never thought I'd be a pastor. I really didn't like church that much and for many years, I wasn't sure just what I believed. That makes me appreciate people who are skeptical or even a little bit leery of the church. They often have good reason to feel that way.

    Some churches discourage raising questions. I revel in them. Some churches expect a certain look or lifestyle. I say come as you are. Some churches are cold and lifeless. I hate boring worship and I strive to bring warmth to everything we do. I guess you could say, I'm not your typical pastor. We're not a typical church. I like to think we treat folks the way Jesus did, and if that intrigues you, I hope you'll come check us out. I'd love to learn your story, and I'm happy to tell you mine.

Biography

    Steve grew up in Delaware, Ohio. As a teen, he enjoyed working on a dairy farm and doing lighting in the school plays. In 1978 he graduated from Hayes High School and attended Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio where he earned an Associate of Science in Business Administration. Sensing a growing call to ministry, which was discovered and clarified through experiences in camping ministry, Steve transferred to Mount Union College where he received his B.A. in Religion in 1982. That was also the year he married Marcy.

    The young newlyweds moved to Evanston Illinois, where he enrolled at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. While there, he focused much of his classes on counseling, discovering that in counseling real life experiences and personal theology interact. In 1985 he graduated and began serving The United Church of Amsterdam in rural Carroll County. In 1987 Liza was born and in 1988 the family moved to Lakewood, Ohio. Steve served as an Associate Pastor focusing on youth ministry. 

    In 1990 Emma was born and the family took a huge step of faith, relocating to Dallas, Texas where Steve enrolled in the Doctoral program of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He also worked on the staff of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, doing pastoral care and counseling, leading grief groups and marriage enrichment weekends, after receiving his Doctor of Ministry degree.  

     In 1993, the family returned to Ohio and Steve again focused in youth ministry on the staff of First UMC in Cuyahoga Falls. There he directed a youth ministry that included nearly 140 teens, 20 adult volunteers, and 2 very decrepit busses.

  In 1998 the family moved to New Philadelphia, where Steve became the Senior Pastor of this congregation. He currently is the volunteer Police Chaplain for the New Philadelphia Police Department. He also chairs the Communications Commission of the East Ohio Annual Conference and the Finance Committee of the Tuscarawas District. He is the Vice-Chair of the Board for Leadership Tuscarawas.   He enjoys cooking, history, violent computer games, travel, and his family.