I just learned that John Stevens, long-time pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, finished his race on December 2. He was our pastor from 1985 – 2001. We moved back to Alabama for five years in 2001, and by the time we returned to Colorado, he had retired. He stayed in the area, and we remained friends. June taught piano to two of his granddaughters, and John and Gail would come to the recitals.

The obituary published in the Gazette on December 10 is well-written and worth the read in its entirety. I’ll capture a few highlights and personal reflections.

The Reverend Dr. John H. Stevens, the long-time pioneering pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs whose 36-year ministry helped transform the city and whose messages gladdened the hearts of both the happy and the hurting, slipped away peacefully at the Mount St. Francis Nursing Center. He was 85.

The family moved to Hollywood when John was 5, and he grew up living across the street from Columbia Pictures:

John joined a stable of kids who were regularly pulled on as extras in a wide array of movies, including ALL THE KING’S MEN, THE GOOD HUMOR MAN, and several films with John Wayne.

…First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood would prove to be an even greater influence in his young life. Sitting under the teachings of senior pastors Dr. Louis Evans, Dr. Raymond Lindquist, and legendary Sunday school teacher Henrietta Mears, the seeds of his own future ministry were sowed, planted and watered.

John attended and graduated from Hollywood High, crossing paths with the likes of Carol Burnett, Natalie Wood, and David and Ricky Nelson. Studying prelaw at the University of California Santa Barbara, and while attending a Lambda Chi Alpha party at the Plow and Angel Bar inside the San Ysidro Ranch Hotel, John felt an overwhelming spiritual conviction. He immediately left the bar (and his date!), returned home, got down on his knees, and committed the rest of his life to the Lord.

After a stint in the Army and seminary, he served as a youth minister in San Diego before joining the staff at First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, as an associate. Just one year later, at the relatively young age of 32, he became Senior Pastor.

Driving home one Sunday after service, John reflected on the tremendous untapped potential of the church. “This is a sleeping giant,” he told Gail. “I’m going to wake it up.” The next decade would mark the single greatest growth season in congregation history. John would oversee the launch of a divorce recovery workshop, a grief recovery ministry, as well as the establishment of Growing Together Wednesday night fellowship and classes. “Festival of Faith” was a summer program featuring sermons from some of the country’s great preachers. John assumed the mantle of someone who championed the city, encouraged the faithful, enthusiastically mentored new pastors and unapologetically and optimistically preached the Good News of Jesus Christ.

My oldest son, Mark, especially loved John. One Wednesday night Mark took a deck of playing cards to church. I, having grown up in an environment that frowned on playing cards, told Mark I wasn’t sure he should have those in church. Undaunted, Mark went up to John and showed him a card trick saying something like, “My dad told me I shouldn’t bring these to church.” John replied, “Your dad is probably right. Show me another one!”

I remember this event well:

One Super Bowl Sunday that featured the Denver Broncos, John remarked, “I don’t know what all the fuss is about this weekend.” As he spoke, he pulled an orange handkerchief from the sleeve of his black robe.

On another occasion, the Broncos, who usually play at 2p in our time zone, had an 11a playoff game, the time of the third of “three identical services” and the one with the most attendance. John acted like he couldn’t figure out why the 8a service was unusually full!

Dr. Stevens’ weekly messages (more than 1,200 across his pastorate), appealed to the congregation’s highest hopes. Thousands packed the pews each week to hear him teach and apply the Scriptures to their everyday lives. His sermons were insightful, inspirational, and often infused with gentle and wry humor. – Gazette, December 2, 2023

I like to recognize excellence when I see it and honor those who served faithfully.

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25.21, ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12.1, 2, ESV)