However, even with so many positive influences, Steve started to struggle in his early teen years. The world was pulling hard at him. In his 10th grade year, he decided to stop giving in to the devil, and he fully surrendered to the Lord. It was at that time that God called him to preach. He became very serious about his grades, his service to the Lord, and where he would attend college. By his senior year, he had narrowed down his college choices to just a few. At that time, Pastor Thompson met with him and told him he felt there was only one college choice for him—Fairhaven Baptist College. So, sight-unseen, Steve followed his pastor’s advice and enrolled in Fairhaven in the fall of 1989.

Steve immediately jumped into everything he could. He was on the soccer team, on the basketball team, helped on a bus route, worked in the teen youth group, and helped in a junior church. It was not long before he was hired by Fairhaven to work as an office assistant and youth helper. Upon graduation, he became the junior high youth pastor and a few years later, the senior high youth pastor. Pastor Damron has a heart for teens. He was the youth pastor for Fairhaven Baptist Church for 20 years! In that time, he started Empowered Youth, a week-long meeting geared directly towards teens. Many teens have surrendered to God’s will during these meetings and are now out serving the Lord.

 

In 1994, he married Becky Voegtlin. Her father started Fairhaven Baptist Church in 1970. Growing up at Fairhaven and in a pastor’s home had many benefits. She was able to attend Christian school, learn to play the piano and French Horn, help in the church office, church kitchen, and work with the teens as well. Steve and Becky met in college while working in the teen department. For many years Becky enjoyed teaching in the Christian school, leading the teen girls’ choir, leading the elementary choir, teaching the Ladies’ Bible Study, and counseling teen girls and ladies in the church.

 

Steve and Becky have four children. Jennifer, Sabrina, Jake, and Clint. It is their heart’s desire that they serve the Lord!

 

In 2011, Pastor and Mrs. Damron’s life took a turn in direction that they did not expect. The pastor and deacons approached Pastor Damron and asked him to reconsider becoming the pastor of Fairhaven Baptist Church. He had been approached about 10 years before this time but felt God had called him to work only with teens. However, as Steve prayed this time, God was very clear in His calling. The church voted that he become their future pastor in February 2012.

Through the years, Steve Damron has been influenced by many good men–from growing up at Cleveland Baptist Church under the leadership of Roy Thompson, to his youth pastor, Dan Wolvin, and then his father-in-law, Roger Voegtlin, who was not only his pastor for 20 years, but also his boss. However, it has been God and His Word which have influenced him the most. 

In 2019, under the authority of Fairhaven Baptist Church, Pastor Damron launched Independent Baptist Seminary.  The purpose of the seminary is to provide quality, Baptist, continuing education for pastors who desire further study in the Word.  In 2021, Pastor Damron’s ministry took another turn as he believed that God wanted him to devote himself fully to the work of the seminary.  He resigned as pastor of Fairhaven Baptist Church in early 2022 and is now focused solely on writing and the work of the seminary.   

 

For information on the seminary or to schedule Pastor Damron to preach at your church, please email sdamron@independentbaptistseminary.org.