On March 3, the Potomac Conference celebrated the ordination of Pastor Renee Stepp into the gospel ministry. The service took place at the Williamsburg church (Va.), in a sanctuary packed with friends, family and church members. Renee has lived her life in friendship with Jesus. She served in her church, even as a child, in music ministry with her family. Her parents and extended family showed her what it meant to offer back to Jesus, in faithful service, every talent and blessing He gave. Over her teen and young adult years, she lived for her summers at camp, and is thankful to God for camp directors who loved her and challenged her to grow in service and character. Her years of summer camp ministry kept her grounded in faith and dependent on Jesus during a time when many of her friends and classmates began to turn away.
Renee studied at Andrews Academy (Berrien Springs, Mich.) and that is when she first heard God’s call to a life of ministry. It was specifically through a small group ministry class, taught by Pastor Gary Burns, that this became clear. She earned her degree in Family Studies at Andrews University, then moved on to be the Women’s Dean at Forest Lake Academy (Fla.). Renee then became a licensed social worker, and, within a few years, she became the strategic planning coordinator and person-centered planning trainer for her organization.
But during this time, God reminded her of the call He had given her at the age of 15, to give her life to Him in full-time ministry. Through the support of a small group she was studying with, and the mentorship of John Kent and Susan Payne, Renee made the decision to leave her work and enroll full-time in the Andrews Theological Seminary. After receiving her M.Div, she served as the Chaplain at Ozark Adventist Academy (Ark.) for three years before receiving a call to Potomac Conference. Her years at Vienna SDA Church (Va.) and School were a tremendous blessing to her. Now she has the pleasure of pastoring the Williamsburg, Yale and Newport News District in Virginia. Pastor Renee says often that God lavishes his love in his children (I John 3:1), and her life is proof that His love is extravagant.
She has traveled the world telling people how good He is!
