Stephen was born in Houston, Texas, and spent much of his childhood in Corpus Christi before moving to Valparaiso, Indiana, in the mid-1990s. His life has been deeply shaped by the church from an early age. Raised in the Methodist tradition, Stephen grew up surrounded by faithful leadership—his grandfather served as a Director of Education, and his grandmother was an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Their influence helped nurture the faith that continues to guide his life today.
After moving to Valparaiso, Stephen and his family found their church home at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Valparaiso, where he has remained deeply connected to the life of the church.
From a young age, church felt like home. “There goes the little preacher,” people would often say something that, looking back, seems almost prophetic. While Stephen sensed a call to ministry early on, in recent years that call became something stronger a pull he could no longer ignore. Today he is joyfully following that path.
Stephen is currently a student at Lexington Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ seminary, where he is continuing his theological education and preparing for pastoral ministry.
He is grateful to serve at First Presbyterian Church, where the sense of community is vibrant and genuine. As a husband to Joanna and father to two boys, Emmett and Everett, Stephen especially values the church’s intentional investment in families and children. What stands out most to him, however, is that this is a place where everyone is truly welcomed not just in word, but in practice.
In his spare time, Stephen enjoys watching movies with Joanna, coaching Emmett and Everett’s baseball teams, playing music, and perhaps most of all finding new and creative ways to lovingly annoy his wife. He also has a deep love for learning about church history, Scripture, and the ways faith communities have grown and changed over time.
Favorite Book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was a childhood favorite. As an adult, I’m still drawn to imaginative fiction — especially The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, stories from the Star Wars universe, and the occasional good comic series.
Favorite Movie or TV Show: I’m a big fan of epic adventures like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, plus just about anything in the Star Wars universe. When I’m in the mood for comedy, I still love the show Scrubs. Avatar: The Last Airbender is always a favorite too. There are a few others, but those are the regulars in the rotation.
Favorite Meal: I love trying foods from different cultures — Mexican, Thai, and Chinese dishes are always near the top of my list. But I also have a soft spot for classic Southern comfort food. Give me bold flavors or something that feels like it came straight from a family
kitchen, and I’m happy.
Favorite Vacation: I’m happiest near water or in the mountains — beaches and mountain views both feel like a reset button for the soul. Some of my favorite memories growing up were trips to SeaWorld San Antonio and days at Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels. I also loved just hanging out and floating on the river — simple, sunny, all-day fun.
Favorite Performer: I enjoy artists with strong songwriting and a laid-back vibe — people like John Mayer, Coldplay, Jason Mraz, and Goo Goo Dolls.
Other Favorites: I’ve always had a fascination with airplanes and aviation. I love coaching my kids’ baseball teams and being involved in their activities. While I don’t get to play my cello and guitar or sing as much as I used to, I still really enjoy it when I do. At home, one of my favorite pastimes is (lovingly) annoying my wife. I enjoy cooking too — experimenting in the kitchen is fun. Cleaning up afterward… not quite as much.
