ABCRM Board Calls Rev. Dr. Steven Van Ostran to be the New Executive Minister
At a special meeting on Saturday, January 12th of the ABCRM Board, a unanimous call was issued to Rev. Dr. Steven Van Ostran to be our next Executive Minister. Rev. Dr. Van Ostran has targeted the February 29th-March 1st regular Board meeting to be on site pending final obligations in his current position.
Steve comes to us after 18 years in pastoral ministry serving congregations both in rural and urban settings. For the last 5 years he has been the Associate Executive Minister for ABC of the Central Region (primarily Kansas). He is married to Debbie, an interior architect, and they have three children. Their oldest, R.C. is a senior math major at Kansas University. Peter, their second, is a senior at Washburn Rural High School and plans to remain in Kansas for college, possibly Washburn University. Debbie noted that one of the hardest steps in this move will be leaving their sons behind. They will be bringing their youngest, daughter Paige, who is currently a seventh grader at Washburn Rural Middle School.
Before recommending a candidate to the Board, the Executive Minister Search Committee went through an extensive process of sifting through candidates culminating with inviting the two finalists for a face-to-face interview, a process outlined in the last Rocky Mountain American Baptist dated December 31st. (For more details go to www.abcrm.org/news_archives/2007/abcrmnl123107.pdf.)
At the interviews the overarching question for one pastor on the Search Committee was, “Can I follow this person?” After interviewing Steve, I turned to him and asked him if he had an answer to his question. The answer was a resounding, “Yes!” During the interview as well as in a set of questions submitted to the candidates in a previous round it was apparent that Rev. Dr. Van Ostran approached his ministry from a sound theological base consistent with the perspective of people in our Region. Further, his experience in his current Region staff position has prepared him well for leading staff and churches in the Rocky Mountains.
Van Ostran received his Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1987. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Northern Baptist Seminary in Lombard, Illinois.
Rev. Dr. Van Ostran stated in his application that, “I was raised, licensed, and ordained as a Southern Baptist. This has given me a unique understanding of church growth, theology and holistic worship. I have chosen to be a part of and to serve American Baptist Congregations because I am better able to live out my faith here.” His entire ministry has been in the American Baptist family.
At the Board meeting Steve was asked to comment specifically on why he was attracted to American Baptists. While there were several reasons, his response focused primarily on how American Baptists do missions. He believes the strategy of International Ministries to partner with the indigenous church is the bedrock of successful missions. Specifically, he cited the on going witness in Myanmar (Burma) even after foreign missionaries were expelled.
Steve was called to ministry out of a study beginning with Ephesians 4:11 which emphasized the equipping and preparation of fellow Believers for Christian service. When called to Regional work five years ago he believed he was able to live out that passion and purpose more fully by working with multiple congregations.
Further, he stated, “My call to regional work has grown out of the calling and practice of being a local church pastor.” He has shared that his vision for the local church is to reclaim the “incarnational” nature that is described by the Apostle Paul by depicting the church as “The Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). It is his desire to help local churches reconnect with their community and to discover new avenues of ministry within those communities. In so doing, Van Ostran believes that the church’s ongoing witness to Christ will once again become effective, even in our post-modern world.
During the time that Van Ostran was the Associate Executive Minister he served two terms as the Acting Executive Minister due to the sabbatical and subsequent disability and retirement of their Executive Minister. His experience in that capacity prepared him for practical, substantive responses to questions from the Search Committee and later the Board that led all to believe he is prepared to lead us in that position in the Rocky Mountains. In his capacities in the Central Region he was responsible for directing the Interim Ministry Program of the Region, consulting with congregations on a variety of issues including pastoral placement, conflict transformation processes, Natural Church Development, Appreciative Inquiry processes and financial concerns. He also worked with a regional task force looking at structure and redesign for the region.
When informed of the Board’s decision Steve and Deb stated that events over the past few months has confirmed that this has been God’s leading and they are excited to be here so Steve can begin his work. Because of a senior in high school and commitments to her current position, Deb and the family will remain in Kansas until mid summer while Steve comes ahead to begin work here.
He challenged the Board to be available to introduce him to the many facets of our Region and looks forward to meeting quickly with as many pastors and churches as he can. Please welcome the Van Ostrans as they settle in to this new ministry. Pray for them as they prepare for the move. Pray that God will give them discernment in how they go about settling in.
An added note of interest: Deb stated one other regret at leaving and that was leaving their home church where she has been cooking the Wednesday night dinners for the last few years! Any church out there interested in making her feel at home?
Submitted by
Rich Schweissing
ABCRM President
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