Our Staff

Kevin Merritt, Senior Pastor

Pastor Kevin has been serving as our Senior Pastor since January, 2007.  He and his wife Liz have three children who are 17, 15 and 12.   He received his undergraduate degree in world politics from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.  Pastor Kevin spent fifteen years in the corporate world until sensing a call to ministry.  In the summer of 2004 the Merritt family sold their home in Monroe and moved to Massachusetts to attend Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (www.gordonconwell.edu). Pastor Kevin received a Master of Divinity degree in 2007, and came to Stepney directly from seminary.  He believes passionately that wherever anyone is on their journey of faith, they should always strive to go deeper in God.  His goal is to teach and model an authentic faith in Christ to a generation that has been turned off by hypocracy in religion.

To email the pastor please click here.

Liz Merritt, Ministry Coordinator

Liz Merritt grew up in Fairfield, CT and graduated from Skidmore College with a double major in social work and sociology.  She worked in the White House and the Congressional Budget Office as an Administrative Assistant. After that she stayed home to raise their three children.  Liz received a Master of Arts in Religion from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in May, 2007, with an emphasis on women’s ministry.  Her responsibilities at the church are both administrative and ministry related.  Liz is passionate about encouraging people to study the Scriptures so their lives will be transformed.

Drew Peterson, Youth Minister

Drew and Brittany Peterson moved to Connecticut in 2008 from Elk Rapids, Michigan.  They are both graduates of Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Drew is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School. In his free time, he enjoys sports and games of all kinds. He grew up hunting and fishing.  Brittany enjoys her time with the girls in the youth group. She and Drew came to Connecticut through Teach for America, which placed her as a kindergarten teacher at Barnum Elementary School in Bridgeport. Brittany is pursuing graduate studies in education.

Justin Rasbach, Contemporary Worship Leader

Justin leads the worship at our 11:00 Ignite service.  He is a Connecticut native and a full time student at the business school at UConn.  He graduated from Christian Heritage School in Trumbull, CT in 2007, where he completed high school. He has received professional instruction in acoustic and electric guitar for over six years.   Justin desires to walk in the footsteps of Christ and to follow God without wavering.

Christopher White, Organist

Chris is a native of Meriden, Connecticut and plays the organ at our Traditional Service at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays.  He directs seasonal choirs for the church and plays at many other events as well.  Chris majored in organ performance at Oberlin College in Ohio, and received a Masters Degree in Music Theory at Queens College in New York.  He is currently pursuing his PhD in Music Theory at Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.