| 
Steve
Pauls - Associate Pastor
I was born
in Kansas, April of 1949, into a German Mennonite farming heritage.
When I was two we moved to Reedley, California (near Fresno) where
I grew up in a fine Christian home, attending a Mennonite Brethren
Church, graduating from a Christian High School. None of this
prevented my heart from sinking deep into rebellion, drugs, and
self indulgence. The Lord brought me to the end of myself on April
20, 1970 on the coastal cliffs of California where instead of
taking my own life I placed my trust in Him. Two months later
I met my future wife Janet Ewert, who grew up just 7 miles from
me. We married on July 28, 1972 in Dinuba, CA. With her BA degree
in Elementary Education, we returned to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo,
CA. where I obtained my BS in Architecture in 1976 and a minor
in Bible.
For the next
14 years I worked as an Architect, first in Los Angeles and then
in Anchorage after our move to Alaska in1979. During my career
as a licensed Architect I met the challenge of designing 750 million
dollars in projects. I started my own business in 1986. In1979,
Janet and I joined a new church plant called Anchorage Grace.
Over the next ten years I served 3 terms on our elder board overseeing
our adult ministries, small groups, and camping events. In the
midst of this (1986) came God’s call to me to be a pastor.
In 1989 I joined the pastoral staff here at Grace pastoring our
adult ministries for 9 years and now our facility ministries for
9 years. After 18 years, I am preparing to return to pastoring
adults as God leads. We have two children, Suzanne (1981) who
is married to Shawn Clarke, a youth Pastor in Chicago, IL and
Stephanie (1983) currently working on a Masters in Physical Therapy
in Houston, TX. |
