JOINING US IN SEPTEMBER,

  Rev. Phillip and Debbie Steinbach

We have been blessed with the upcoming appointment of Rev. Phillip Steinbach.  Rev. Steinbach will assume duties as the Associate Pastor of Sierra Vista beginning September 1, 2010.

Rev. Phillip Steinbach is a native of San Antonio .  He lived in Houston and Austin before entering vocational ministry in June 2000.  Prior to ministry Phillip had an 18-year career with IBM.  He is a graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary where he earned the Master of Divinity degree in May 2000.  He is continuing his theological education at APTS and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree. 

Phillip is coming home.  He lived in West Texas for seven years previously serving churches in Mertzon and Christoval.  Since 2007, he has been the pastor of First UMC in Yoakum , TX and of Hope UMC.

Phillip currently serves on the District Superintendency Committee in the Victoria District , the Conference Board of Church and Society, chair of the Yoakum Ministerial Alliance, member of the Board of Directors for the Yoakum chapter of Hands on Housing, and member of the Board of Directors of the Golden Cresent CASA.

Phillip and Debbie Steinbach have been married for 33 years, and have one adult son, David.  Debbie is a CPA and a partner in an accounting firm in Austin .  She spends about half of her ‘working time’ at home by ‘tele-commuting’ and about half of her time in Austin .

Debbie is a singer, and will be participating in the music ministry at SVUMC once they get settled in.  She is also involved in church leadership in the Southwest Texas Annual Conference, having served on the Council on Finance and Administration for eight years, and currently serving on the Board of Pensions and Health Benefits and on the conference Audit Committee.

Their son David and his family live in Wall.  His wife, Tori, is a student at Howard College .  They have two sons, Nathan (10) and Gracen (2), and they are expecting a new addition to the family in January.  Phillip and Debbie are thrilled to be moving to San Angelo .

            We pray God’s blessings on the Steinbach’s as they give themselves to Christ, the church, the family and friends of Sierra Vista and our community.  A reception for Phillip and Debbie will be arranged and announced once boxes begin to be emptied.

Thanks be to God,