Dr. Steve Brown
Lead Pastor

I want to love one woman and love her well.

Steven Wayne Wilson was born on December 2, 1970 at Waddell Hospital in Galax, Virginia, to Ann and Leonard Wilson. They later divorced and Ann married again, seven years later, Murl Brown. He would eventually adopt Steven.

In High School Steven proudly played Varsity football. Football is where Steven found his need for male leadership fulfilled. As his coaches constantly poured into him, they taught him some of life’s greatest lessons.

In addition to playing football, Steven was a member of the National Honor Society. Steven would go on to graduate from Galax High School in 1988.

After High School, Steven chose to enter the military in order to take advantage of the G.I. Bill. He desired to be the first in his family to receive a college degree. The summer just before he was to leave for his military commitment, he met a young lady who would later become his partner for life. Steven began his four year military career with Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was promoted during basic training from Private to Private First Class, a rare honor. He then completed his AIT training at Ft. Lee in Petersburg, Virginia. He would spend the rest of his assignment at a small base in Wildfleckon, Germany with the 144th Ordinance Company as a supply specialist and for a time, also serving as company armorer.

In November of 1989, he married Rachel and she joined him overseas in early 1990. Just eleven short months later, Steven’s company received orders to deploy to Iraq. His company received many awards for their contributions during Desert Storm including the Army Commendation medal for meritorious service. His unit also received the Presidential Award.

It was during this time that Steven experienced the most defining moment in his life. While attending a church service one evening, God opened his eyes and allowed him to see his sin as God did. It literally drove him to his knees where he felt as if the floor was going to swallow him up into Hell. He begged God to forgive him and wash him clean. Upon returning to his feet, he was a new man! He got saved that night and he’s never gotten over it! This began a journey no imagination could have dreamed!

After exiting the military, Steven continued to pursue his dream of a college degree. He completed his first year at Liberty University. In 1994 his first daughter, Kali, was born. Shortly after he transferred to Judson College and in 1996 his second daughter, Hannah, was born. Judson is where he would see his dreams come to fruition. In May of 1998 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Youth Ministries and Adolescent Studies with high distinction, less than 48 hours after the birth of his third daughter, Joy. It should be noted that also during his pursuit of a college diploma, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves as a Chaplain’s Assistant and was promoted to Sargent, he worked a full-time job, he was ordained as a deacon, and he volunteered as his church’s youth minister, all while growing and raising a young family. It was during his volunteer service in his local church where Steven heard God’s call to preach. He was ordained as a minister and licensed to preach by Bartlett Baptist Church in Bartlett, Illinois.

Upon graduation, Steven went on to pursue a Masters of Divinity with Biblical Languages degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Eager to put some of that head knowledge into practice, Steven pursued a ministry position and was called to serve on staff, part-time, at Memorial Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC. While there his fourth daughter, Sarah, was born. After the Lord closed the doors of ministry there, He opened another door in Lenoir, NC. Flemings Chapel called Steven as an Associate Pastor, full-time, where his primary focus was youth and music ministry. After serving there for two years and just a month after the birth of his fifth daughter, Jael, the Lord would also close that door for ministry. But God, in His faithfulness, provided a third opportunity to pastor. In September of 2002, Bethesda Baptist Church in Durham, NC called Steven to be its Youth Pastor. Steven faithfully served the body, even leading the church to transition successfully to two Sunday morning services as the contemporary worship leader in addition to his primary role as Youth Pastor. He not only discipled many students but adults as well, and many are currently in ministry to some capacity today as a result of his pouring into them. He also successfully led three youth mission trips to Puerto Rico during his five and a half year tenure. And, yet again, while he served at Bethesda, Steven was once again blessed with the birth of daughter number six, Shiloh.  In 2005, Steven felt called to pursue a Doctorate of Ministry, which he did, from Southeastern Seminary with a specialty in Church Planting. While pursuing this degree Steven and his wife, Rachel, surrendered to a call that the Lord placed in Steven’s heart some 9 years earlier to serve on the foreign mission field and they were appointed by the International Mission Board in April of 2008. In July, they, their six girls and 21 pieces of luggage headed to Eastern Europe where they served for 19 months in the country of Macedonia.

In 2010, the Lord called them back to the U.S. After several months of intense prayer and seeking the heart of God, Steven felt the Lord call him to Ohio where he currently serves as Senior Pastor of Park Heights Baptist Church in Middleburg Heights. His seventh daughter, Kesed, was born shortly after arriving to Ohio. In addition to shepherding his flock tirelessly, Steven also serves on the Executive leadership team with the local association, Cleveland Hope, and he serves on the Missions Counsel and Executive Committee as the chair for church planters with the State Convention.

During his lifetime, in addition to all the ministry positions, Steven has held many jobs such as building houses, washing dishes at the local steak house, stocker at a grocery store, employee at Dollar Tree, landscaper, toner cartridge replacer, printer at Sears headquarters, waiter at Cracker Barrel, telemarketer, UPS warehouse worker, pizza deliverer, CARQUEST warehouse worker, RV salesman, security guard and Chick-fil-A employee.

Steven has done all of these things to faithfully follow the plans that the Lord has laid out before him. He has displayed great wisdom in confidently obeying each step as God shed light on His plans for him. Steven considers none of the above accomplishments as worthy life achievements except those that center around his passions for marriage, family, preaching and teaching the Word of God, winning souls, missions, leadership development and learning.

Pastor Ryan Colpitts​

Associate Pastor

Mickey DeAngelo

Small Group Leader

Be the change you want to see in the world

​Nan Bailey

Administrative Assistant

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
                                                             ~Maya Angelou

​Lisa Fodor

Assistant Secretary

See the picture of my face?” I’m precious to the King of Kings, so don’t you dare underestimate the plans that He has for me, because they are great!