Longtime pastor of Colorado Springs church leaves ‘enormous’ legacy
First Presbyterian Church in downtown Colorado Springs would not have its strong religious and community presence in this century without the foresight, perseverance and faith of the Rev. Dr. John Stevens, say today’s pastors in mourning the passing of the longtime clergyman.
Stevens, who arrived at First Presbyterian Church in 1969 as an associate pastor and became senior minister at age 32, a job he would hold for 34 years, died Dec. 2 at Mount St. Francis Nursing Center. He was 85.
In his sermon last Sunday, Lead Pastor Tim McConnell told his congregation that Stevens had pastored First Presbyterian through its healthiest season of growth.
“And, in many ways he led us to become what we are today,” McConnell said, adding that his namesake, Stevens Hall, in the church’s Worship Center, is a reminder of his importance.
“His ministry impact was enormous, as through his faithful preaching and teaching of the Word he watched the Lord build a patch of the kingdom right here,” McConnell said.
The Rev. John Goodale worked for Stevens for the decade before Stevens retired in 2005.
“When you see a lot of leaders up front, you’re never sure how much it’s about them. For John, it was always about what was best for this church,” said Goodale, pastor of caring ministries at First Presbyterian Church.
The influential Stevens elevated the church in the 1970s and 1980s from a Sunday-only venue to an everyday destination for spiritual, physical and emotional sustenance.
At a time when other religious leaders were worrying about how the growing number of divorced couples would be addressed in Christian circles, Stevens orchestrated the launch of a divorce recovery workshop, which he told staff would become a vital ministry, Goodale said. He was right.
The church pioneered a grief recovery ministry and Wednesday night spiritual formation classes for children and adults. In the late 1970s, the church was recognized for having the fastest growing Sunday school in the state.
Stevens had a sharp vision and unwavering focus, Goodale said. “He saw what needed to be done and what it took to accomplish it.”
Stevens displayed his sacrificial mentality by often working seven days a week and insisting on being paid below market rate for years so the money could be used elsewhere the church, Goodale said.
“He was known for excellence — he wanted everything to be the very best that it could be — and he was driven to enable First Presbyterian to be as relevant to as many as possible.”
Stevens was a commanding presence in the pulpit, and as a result, church-goers flocked to get a seat to hear his powerful preaching. When he retired 18 years ago, the congregation had 5,400 members, Goodale said. Today, there are about 3,000 congregants.
“What drew so many people was our worship experience,” Goodale said. Among the elements, Stevens created a multifaceted service with a traditional choir accompanied by trumpets, guitars and drums.
“That was really pushing the envelope, but it created a vibrant Sunday morning experience, with practical preaching,” Goodale said.
Colorado Springs resident Paul Batura began attending First Presbyterian Church in 1998 and said he immediately was captivated by Stevens’ sermons.
“They were thoughtful, rooted in the scriptures, and always extremely practical and applicable to my everyday life,” Batura said. “He was a masterful storyteller.”
Batura described Stevens as confident but humble, poised but approachable.
“Perhaps there were more charismatic pastors, or even more intellectually inclined ministers — but no pastor worked harder or cared more deeply about his congregants,” Batura said.
For example, when a blizzard shuttered the city on Christmas Eve in 1983, Stevens risked his own safety to go to the church, in case anyone showed up for the canceled service.
The Rev. John Stevens’ sermon series from 2001, a clip that First Presbyterian congregant Paul Batura hung on his refrigerator weekly.
“He wanted them to be warmly greeted and didn’t want to put anyone else at risk on his staff,” Batura said.
No one will forget his sense of humor, either. Stevens told Batura that when he returned to the church a year after retirement, he saw a crooked picture and resisted the urge to straighten it out, thinking that was no longer his job. But after Stevens walked away, he couldn’t help himself and went back to level it off.
Stevens oversaw several campus expansions, during what would become the single greatest growth period since the congregation’s founding in 1872.
The church acquired land to build parking lots in the landlocked downtown. In the late 1990s, the church was offered the car dealership property to the east.
“It was also a sudden challenge to raise the money to purchase what seemed like a great opportunity,” Goodale said.
In 2003, the office space was remodeled.
“John was constantly growing the church — not for the sake of growth but for the sake of ministering to as many people as we could,” Goodale said.
“This church was on the cutting edge because of John’s leadership, vision and new initiatives,” he said. “I think we’re still riding a lot of the momentum John set in place. We’ve got a faithful core, and we’re seeing a resurgence in people who are worshipping.”
Batura said he hopes Stevens will be remembered as a humble servant who committed his life to telling people about Jesus Christ.
“He did it with style and flair,” Batura said. “I looked forward to his sermons so much so that I always posted a card featuring his latest preaching series schedule on my fridge.”
This week the church is preparing for its annual Christmas Eve service, which draws thousands of people.
“We’re carrying on John’s legacy in a lot of ways,” Goodale said.
Survivors include Stevens’ wife, Gail, sons Stanford and Timothy, and five granddaughters. The family will hold a celebration of life service in the spring.
The Rev. John Stevens retired in 2005 after 34 years as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs and working at the church for a total of 36 years. Stevens died Dec. 2, 2023, at age 85.
