Pastor Steve and his amazing wife Liz, were married on October 17, 1992 at Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Rockford, the church that Liz grew up at. 

Pastor Steve spent most of his growing up years in Schaumburg, IL, where his family attended Grace Lutheran, Streamwood, St. John Lutheran and St. Peter Lutheran in Schaumburg. He attended St. John’s elementary school 2nd-5thgrade and St. Peter’s elementary school 6th-8th grade. And graduated from Schaumburg High School in 1987.

Pastor Steve is well educated. He attended 5 different colleges over 17 years to receive a 4-year degree. But in those 17 years he actively pursued God’s direction for his life. He traveled with Lutheran Youth Encounter’s east coast team Common Bread for a year, doing youth ministry at different churches daily. The following year he worked in Orland, FL for the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS as the Youth Staffer. After that year, he moved back to IL to go to school for a while, but school wasn’t to be a large part of his life. During this time, he met Liz at an LYE event. He was then offered a job at Faith Lutheran Church in Merritt Island, FL to be a full-time youth worker and assistant to the pastor. So in 1992 he took the fulltime position in FL and then married Liz. 

After almost 3 years in FL Steve took a part-time position at a church in Hopkins, MN, while there he also worked at Mayer Lutheran High School teaching religion and coaching baseball.

After almost 3 years in MN and by God’s grace Steve and Liz conceived their first child, David. So, they decided to move back to Rockford to have David grow up near his grandparents and extended family. 

The Benson family lived in Rockford for almost 6 years, during which time David, Lydia and Jonathan were born. Also, during this time Steve served as an Elder at Redeemer Lutheran, part-time youth director at St. Paul Lutheran in Rochelle, newspaper delivery person, worked at Menards and Johnstone Supply. But his favorite job next to being dad was mascoting for the Rockford Lightning and the Rockford Riverhawks. The last year in Rockford Steve also worked at Concordia Lutheran School as the PE teacher, leading chapel and helping in the pre-school. And finally finished his Bachelor’s degree at NIU.

In the summer of 2005, the Benson’s moved to St. Louis for Steve to attend Concordia Seminary, and surprisingly in the spring of 2009 he graduated. A 4 year degree in 4 years. God’s timing. His first Call was to St. Paul’s Lutheran in San Diego (Pacific Beach), CA, for the purpose of church planting in Alpine, CA. He served there for almost 3 years and then took a Call to Zion Lutheran in Brainerd, MN. Where he served for over 13 years. It is also where all 3 kids went to High School and where David met his amazing wife Emily. 

He is excited to be back in Rockford, bringing with him all that the Lord has taught him over the years. We serve the ONE TRUE GOD, who deserves our worship and praise, not just on Sunday mornings but in every moment of every day. Learning to be obedient to Jesus command to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to Love our neighbors as ourself.

Email: pastorsteve@mtolivelutheran.com