I saw last night on Facebook that Dear Pastor Errol Stepp has passed into the arms of JESUS. I was blessed to meet Pastor Errol one Saturday when I spoke at a men’s breakfast at Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, New Mexico in 2015. I have Pastor Leonard Navarre to thank for that blessing! I was so super blessed to have a couple of phone conversations with Pastor Errol after that and then I had lunch with him! I learned so very much from his counsel which has helped me guide FGGAM through the years! I cannot tell you in words the impact on me of just that one meeting with Pastor Errol. God bless the memory of Pastor Errol Stepp, a role model for us all and the friend of thousands!
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From Perry L. Stepp
“Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing thy power to save
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue,
Lies silent in the grave
Errol Stepp; pastor, church planter, & Mensch. 1937-2022.”
Well done Bro Stepp faithful servant. Hold the door we will be along shortly. Heb 13:7
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I wrote this in July of 2015 about Pastor Errol after I had lunch with him at Cracker Barrel here in Albuquerque in July of 2015:
I always tell people to have mentors……Godly mentors….you must surround yourself with men and women of God that can help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and hold you accountable to the ways of God. Who you surround yourself with, is who you will become. I have been very blessed with many Godly mentors. A few months ago I met Pastor Errol Stepp (pictured above), who founded Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, New Mexico. I had heard of Pastor Stepp for years and years and then a few months ago I got to meet him. I also got to hear him speak at a Men’s Breakfast at Valley View and his story on how Valley View was established, started with a Church of about 26 people on Christmas Eve 1987 in a horse stable!
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From Pastor Errol’s family:
Our beloved father, Errol Leon Stepp, 85, of Edgewood, New Mexico, died in Albuquerque on December 27, 2022 after a brief illness. He died surrounded by his children.
Errol was born in Wichita, Kansas on April 24, 1937. He was raised in the Wichita area. He graduated from Valley Center (Kansas) High School, where he was active in athletics and choir. After graduating high school, he attended Midwest Christian College in Oklahoma City, earning a bachelor’s degree in Bible. He then attended Oklahoma State University, earning a masters degree in educational counseling.
Errol ministered in churches in Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. In addition to his vocation in ministry, he was active in the Kiwanis Club and the Republican party.
In 1986, along with his wife, Joyce Stepp, Errol founded Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, where he served as senior minister until his retirement in 2001. While serving with Valley View Christian Church, Errol became involved with planting other churches in New Mexico and in the El Paso (Texas) area, and served as executive director of the Christian Church Starters until his retirement in 2017. Evangelism, disciple-making, church planting, and climbing the 14,000-footers in Colorado were his great passions.
Errol and Joyce Ann Stepp met during high school in Valley Center. They were married for fifty-one years, until her death in 2014. Errol remarried in 2016, to Rita (Bailey) Stepp of Wilmington, North Carolina. They were married for three years, until her death in 2020.
Besides being preceded in death by Joyce and Rita, Errol was also preceded by his father, Virgil Leon Stepp; his mother, Nellie Josephine Stepp; and his brother, Milton Stepp. He is survived by his children, Perry Leon Stepp of Bowling Green, Kentucky and Zagreb, Croatia; Kelly Rae Benthem of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Kara Lynn Stepp, of Qinghai, China; eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Errol’s life epitomized his favorite text from the Bible, Hebrews 10:39: “But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
Errol’s life will be celebrated at Valley View Christian Church on January 15 at 2.00 pm., to be followed by a reception. A link to the livestream will be posted prior to the event.
Rest in peace, rise in glory!
I became acquainted with Errol when he moved to our Woodmark AL facility. I saw right away he was a Christian gentleman and was concerned that everyone should come to know our Heavenly Father and accept Jesus as Savior. When I heard the news that Errol had passed from his earthly bondage, I knew he had many family and friends meet him at the Heavenly doors. God will give comfort and peace in all the days ahead. Sincerely, Dorothy Rogers