Clergy profile: Newbury Park couple to embark on a mission

WELL TRAVELED-The Rev. Steve Larson and his wife, Connie, work together for the congregation at the Evangelical Free Church of Conejo Valley in Newbury Park. Larson, a senior pastor who has visited more than 25 counties, says he loves helping others. They'll soon be departing for India. The Rev. Steve Larson, pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of Newbury Park, and his wife, Connie, will depart for India next week to participate in a project of World Impact-World Missions. During August the pastor, his wife and others in his congregation will join a group spreading the Gospel message in the predominantly Hindu-Muslim nation.

"Connie and I have always been a team," Larson said, explaining that he met Connie while he was a youth pastor at the First Baptist Church of Long Beach and a theology student at Biola University's Talbot Center Seminary. He graduated in 1979.

Connie and Steve were friends for about 18 months before he approached the subject of marriage. Realizing this would be an important decision for her, Steve asked Connie to decide whether she wanted to be married to a pastor or a doctor.

They married in 1975 and have remained "a team" ever since.

The newlyweds went to Yellowstone National Park the following year, where Steve worked full-time as a cook and Connie as a maid. She also was a minister and wife to the staff and tourists at Yellowstone Park's Fishing Bridge. The couple led Bible studies and Connie taught Sunday school for the children at Yellowstone Lake. (Steve said Connie's lessons were occasionally interrupted by a moose walking through the class.)

The summer at Yellowstone National Park shaped their lives, according to Larson.

"God taught them to live life as an adventure and not to allow fear to keep them from doing what God called them to do." Today, the pastor, Connie and others in their congregation are evangelizing in India.

Larson believes in "planting the seed" of the message of Christ.

His parents, Harry and Bette Larson of Long Beach, also were instrumental in planting seeds in Larson's life. They were devout Christians although his father wasn't in the ministry. When young Steve felt God's call to enter the ministry, his father coached him by setting up a pulpit in the bedroom and insisting the boy repeat his speech until he "got it right." These experiences during his youth helped Larson realize that teaching God's Word is one of the most important things a person can do.

Matt, the oldest of Connie and Steve Larson's three offspring, is following his father's example as the church's senior high youth pastor, while brother Joe is on a pro golf tour and sister Sarah is a housewife.

Larson said the purpose of the Evangelical Free Church of Newbury Park is its passion to help others know their God and creator in a personal way, experiencing the freedom of forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ.

He says the church he and Connie started about 25 years ago has a very active congregation that has grown to 1,300 since they opened their home for a Bible study group in 1978.

In addition to weekend services at the Evangelical Free Church, 999 Rancho Conejo Blvd. in Newbury Park, projects include prayer meetings, summer camps, men's Bible study, vacation Bible schools and the current World Impact evangelization tour Steve and Connie Larson are leading in India.

Saturday services at the Evangelical Free Church begin each week at 6 p.m. Sunday services start at 9 and 10:45 a.m.

Its Hispanic church, Nueva Vida, has three Spanish-speaking services each weekend, as well as midweek Bible studies and fellowship gatherings. (A children's program is available at all services.)

Those interested in greeting the Larsons before they depart for India are invited to a "Food for the Soul" program and chicken dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Dr. Robert Somerville of The Master's College will be the featured speaker.

The church is also planning a Ronnie Freeman family concert and dinner on Thurs., Aug. 10.

For more information about tonight's program or the concert and dinner, call the church at (805) 498-6613.

To learn more about Nueva Vida, call Pastor Alex Rivero at (805) 498-6613, ext. 865 (English) or ext. 725 (Spanish).