Our Team
Pastor Stewart MacDonald grew up in Salibury, MD where he received a call to ministry during his teenage years, while participating in various youth groups. He went on to receive a BA degree (June 2005) in Pastoral Ministry from the University of Valley Forge and is a recent graduate (May 2015) of Evangelical Seminary in Myerstown, where he earned a MAR degree in Spiritual Formation. Pastor Stewart brings a substantial level of maturity and experience into this position, having worked at two different campuses (Buffalo and Rehrersburg) for Teen Challenge, and most recently with Bethany Children’s Home in Womelsdorf. These experiences have helped him to come to understand some of the darkest struggles and loudest influences that teenagers have in their lives.
Pastor Stewart and his wife, Joelle, met in Buffalo on a blind date “for coffee.” That cup of coffee eventually led to romance and marriage. Currently, they do not have any children, but look forward to starting a family in the near future. Stewart's passions are focused on assisting others in developing a deeper intimacy with God and developing a healthy identity in Christ. You may contact Pastor Stewart by e-mail.
Dawn Koch has been a member of Bethesda EC Church since 2007. Dawn grew up in Saint Clair and graduated from Pottsville Area School District. Dawn has been volunteering with the youth since 2009 with her first life changing trip to Encounter. She has been volunteering in the Kindergarten room once a month since she came to Bethesda, and in 2011, Dawn became full-time youth leader. She feels God has led her to Bethesda to share her life experiences and passion for Christ with the youth. Dawn hopes to guide, encourage, love, teach, prepare, and help the youth of Bethesda become Godly young men and women. You may contact Dawn by e-mail.
Roger Steffy graduated from Schuylkill Haven High School in 1982 and married Lori Kramer in 1991. They have two children, Douglas and Jennifer, who are both married. Roger has been actively involved with youth for the last 25 years in various churches, and enjoys seeing youth grow in their faith spiritually. He currently works at the Hamburg State Hospital for the mentally challenged. Roger has been attending Bethesda since May 2015, and became a member in July 2016. His goal as a member of the youth team is to share God's love, respect, and honor, and also to encourage all youth to make a difference in the lives that they touch.