Dave and Jenny Steane are moving to Colorado Springs this July to help a church in transition (learn more in Pastor Dave's letter below). We'll miss them at MDPC and are excited by the opportunity to show our love and appreciation! We would love your participation in 3 ways:
Join Us to Celebrate on June 12!
We'll enjoy lunch and shared memories of Pastor Dave's 16 years of devoted ministry as MDPC Executive Pastor. Whether you'll be eating lunch or just attending the festivities, please RSVP to help us plan seating, etc.
Children are welcome, though childcare (ages 3 months to 5 years) is available.
Note that Dave will preach at all three English services that Sunday.
Contribute to the Love Gift!
Give online using the button below. If you prefer to make a gift by cash or check, please make your check out to MDPC and mark it "Gift for Dave Steane." If giving cash, place it in an envelope and mark the envelope in the same manner. You can drop your gifts off in the offering boxes or at the MDPC Front Office, or mail them in.
Gifts will be combined and presented to the Steanes from the MDPC family.
Share Your Memories!
Send in stories and remembrances you have with the Steanes. Some will be shared at the luncheon, and all will be bound together as a Memory Gift for Dave and Jenny.
Submit stories and photos using the form below. If you prefer, handwritten notes can be dropped at the front office (Attn: Eva Shaw) or brought to the Celebration Lunch.
A Note from Pastor Alf
(Emailed to the congregation on May 9, 2022)
I have bittersweet news to share. Dave Steane has announced a call to serve as Transitional (Interim) Executive Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs beginning in July. You can read Dave's letter to the congregation below.
Dave has done so much good work for MDPC and the wider Kingdom in his almost 16 years in Houston. He and Jenny and their gifts will be truly missed. However, our strong staff and lay leadership will help us absorb this change in the short term, and your Personnel Committee has already been working behind the scenes to fill the various holes Dave’s departure will create in the long term. As God goes with Dave and Jenny, He is also large enough to stay with us and provide the quality leadership needed in Houston for the season ahead.
There is an old prayer from The Worshipbook I have relied on at times like this: “You have bound us together in the church, great God, and built up the Spirit of love among us. Though we must go separate ways in working for Your kingdom, help us to know that we are joined forever in Your loving care. We thank You for the years together, for mutual support and mutual forgiveness. Never let friendship fade, but keep us remembering one another, and grateful for the life we shared, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Dave will preach on June 12, and there will be a celebration in the Fellowship Hall at 12:30pm. At that time, you will have a chance to offer your love and thanks to the Steanes. More details will follow soon. In the meantime, may God bless the Steanes and may He continue to bless MDPC.
Dave Steane's Letter to MDPC
Dear MDPC Friends,
I’ve found that God’s calling can be both powerful and surprising. It is powerful in that God provides purpose and direction, and it is surprising in that God breaks into the human story often when a person least expects it. In my life and ministry, I have been blessed to experience this powerful and surprising call on several occasions.
I believe that God has done this once again, and the result is that I have accepted a new call to serve as the Transitional (Interim) Executive Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, starting July 1, 2022. First Pres is a 3,400 member ECO church in its 150th year of ministry and they are at the beginning of a significant reorganization of staff structure and culture. They have asked me to bring and apply what I have learned over the years to help lead them through this transition. Through conversation and prayer, it seems God is calling me to join them in this season of change.
I was not actively searching for a new call. For the last nearly 16 years, it has been the highlight of my life and ministry to serve Jesus with you at MDPC. This is a very healthy and stable congregation with an amazing staff of gifted men and women. But last fall, Jenny and I started a conversation about what retirement might look like whenever that time comes. We were encouraged strongly to explore becoming certified as an ECO Transitional Pastor, believing that my gifts and experience could be helpful for a church in transition. It was through that process that FPC reached out to me to explore the idea of doing ministry together.
We have mixed emotions about this transition. We love MDPC and had every intention of staying for however long God wanted. But First Pres is in a season when my past experience and leadership will be a great help, and I see this call as a call to the larger Christian Church and to our ECO Denomination.
Between now and my final Sunday with you on June 12, I will do everything I can to transfer institutional knowledge to others and make sure we have the core operations in stable and good hands.
On a personal note, I can’t thank you enough for the love, support, and encouragement you have extended to Jenny and me since we joined you in September 2006. We have gone through a lot together; from hurricanes Ike and Harvey, several floods, a senior pastor transition, a denominational change, and a global pandemic. In all of this, you have been so very faithful to the Gospel of Jesus, with a gracious and hospitable spirit, and a passion for helping others to open their hearts to God’s love. Thank you for letting us share this amazing journey with you!
With much love and gratitude,
Pastor Dave