Pastor Steve Vera joined the family and ministry of King of Kings Lutheran Church & Preschool in August of 2020. He is a New Jersey native, born and raised in Sussex County. He returned home after over 20 years in the Midwest. Most recently, he spent ten wonderful years as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie, WI.  Prior to that, and before his tenure at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, he served as a youth minister in Hudson, WI and attended college at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN.
   
   Pastor Steve and his wife, Calie (a born & raised MN farm girl), have three children and a puppy named Buddy. They enjoy spending time together playing games, finding trails to hike, and discovering new ice-cream places to satisfy their sweet tooths! Team Vera also delights in the perks of being back in the Garden State as found in the pizza, Taylor Ham & bagel sandwiches, and trips down to the shore. Although Pastor Steve and Calie are a house divided when it comes to the NFL (Giants vs. Vikings), the family cheers together for the MN Twins & UW Badgers. Go Bucky!

   Pastor Steve enjoys all aspects of ministry, but especially preaching and teaching. There is great encouragement, comfort, and hope when we dive into the word together. "Blessed is the man who delights in the Law of the Lord." (Psalm 1:1-3) He is also humbled and grateful whenever given the opportunity for the counseling side of caring for God's people. He is thrilled to now be at a church with a preschool, where the smiles and laughter of the children fill the church with a contagious spirit of joy and life. He is eagerly encouraging King of Kings to see itself in the midst and as part of God's greater mission to seek and save the lost. As we walk alongside our Savior, we will give winsome witness in our communities—at home, at work, and at play.

   If you have more questions about the church, or would just like to sit and visit with Pastor Steve over a cup of coffee, please send him an email at: [email protected].

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19