Pastor Bio
Steve Warkentin
Here is a little bit about my story. . .
I grew up in a Christian home and was pulled toward Jesus at a young age, giving him my life. After graduating high school I was completely unsure what to do next. My friend invited me to a year of Bible school in Saskatchewan. I ended up staying four years. I felt God's call to become a pastor during that time. However, I felt God saying that I needed to get out into the real world and rub shoulders with real life Canadians. After graduating I became an electrician, serving with Kelsey in local churches, ministering broadly wherever we could. During this time God shaped character and conviction for him. After 13 years of electrical work, God began to stir in Kelsey and I. There was a sense of anxiousness! God called me to return to school to get my MDiv. While studying Armstrong Bible Chapel had asked me to occasionally guest speak while they were looking for a pastor. As ABC and our family got to know one another, we felt God calling us to join this wonder community of faith. In September 2021 we were installed as the pastoral couple of ABC!
What are our passions?
We long to see every Jesus follower move from spiritual infancy to spiritual parenthood, able to reproduce mature followers of Jesus. Christianity is meant to holistically address and transform all aspects of a person's life into God's desire for humanity (relationships, wise living, time and finances, mental health and well-being, emotional intelligence, etc.) to the glory of God. We believe that this will happen in intentional community, where followers of Jesus take practical, measurable steps to grow into leaders of the faith. We believe that God's Word given and obeyed is where the Spirit of God changes lives. He moves to convict and transform hearts from the inside out.
Education:
I went to Briercrest College from 2003-2007 graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry. A part of my heart never left Saskatchewan. So much so that I returned to pursue a Master of Divinity with the Seminary (2020-2023).
Interests: Kelsey and I are trying to get our young family into the outdoors as much as possible. We like snowshoeing, hiking, campfires, s'mores, and tents. In the Spring you may catch me flyfishing and in the Fall hunting. When I get all introverted, I hide away and read leadership, theology, biblical studies, philosophy, history and other social sciences.
Books that have deeply impacted my life:
-The Holy Spirit, John Owen
-The Confessions of St. Augustine
-The Cross of Christ, John Stott
-The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
-The Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster
-Practicing the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
-The Prayer Life, Andrew Murray
-The Christian Doctrine of God, Thomas F. Torrance
-The Gospel According to John (Commentary), Leon Morris
-The 21 Most Important Minutes in Leader's Day, John Maxwell
-Ordering your Private World, Gordon MacDonald
-Emotional Intelligence 2.0, Jean Greaves and Travis Bradberry