Renville, MN and the start of PTM
It was Sunday, July 13, 1980. I was 21 years old, preaching for the first time at my first church, Renville Alliance Church in Renville, Minnesota — a town of 1,493 people located 110 miles west of Minneapolis.
On that first Sunday, only eighteen people attended. Driving home, I wondered how such a small church could pay the bills, much less support a pastor. Over the next four and a half years, I would find out exactly how small a church could become and still survive.
That Sunday marked the beginning of what became thirty years of pastoral ministry — most of those years spent serving in smaller congregations in Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Pastoral Transition Ministries (PTM) exists to support smaller churches and the pastors who transition into and out of these often overlooked and misunderstood outposts in the Kingdom of God. If that describes your ministry, you may find information on this site helpful and encouraging.
Steve Fletcher
PTM Mission & Vision
Mission
Helping smaller churches and the pastors that serve them make well-informed ministry transition decisions that will foster God-honoring, long-term, and fulfilling ministry.
Vision
Churches and pastors well-aligned with the mission of Jesus Christ, regardless of their size or season of ministry.
Education, credentials, ministry and marketplace experience
Education
Ministry
Marketplace
Master of Education
Adult Continuing Education
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI (2012)
Master of Arts
Theological Studies
Bethel Theological Seminary
Arden Hills, MN (1993)
Bachelor of Arts
Biblical Studies
Crown College
St. Bonifacius, MN (1987)
Ordination
Christian & Missionary Alliance
The Alliance Midwest District of the C&MA
Janesville, WI (1987)
License
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Western Great Lakes District of the C&MA
Appleton, WI (2025)
Interim Pastor
Slinger Community Church
Slinger, WI
(2025-Current)
Associate Teaching/Interim Pastor
Faith Bible Alliance Church
Neosho, WI
(2022-2025)
Pastor
Faith Bible Alliance Church
Neosho, WI
(1993-2011)
Interim Pastor
Renville Alliance Church
Renville, MN
(1988-1989)
Pastor
East Grove Union Church
Amboy, IL
(1985-1988)
Pastor
Renville Alliance Church
Renville, MN
(1980-1984)
Career Planning & Development Consultant
Rogers Behavioral Health
Oconomowoc, WI
(2018-2024)
Workforce Trainer & Operations Supervisor
Equus Workforce Solutions
Racine, WI
(2011-2018)
Customer Information Services Supervisor
Dataserv, Inc
Chanhassen, MN
(1988-1993)
Statement of Faith
God
There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Scriptures
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a virgin. He lived a sinless life, performed miracles and teachings worthy of all acceptance.
I believe His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, gift, empower, and bear His fruit in every believer He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
Man: Creation & Fall
People were created by God in His image. By willful transgression, we fell into sin and incurred physical death but spiritual death, which is separation from God. All human beings are sinners by nature and choice and are under the condemnation of a holy God.
Salvation
Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people. Those who repent and believe in Him are justified by grace through faith, born again of the Holy Spirit, delivered from the dominion of darkness, transferred into the Kingdom of God’s Son, granted the gift of eternal life, and adopted as the children of God.
There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
Church
The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again by the Holy Spirit.
Christ is the Head of His Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world making disciples of all peoples.
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are called to love and joined together for the worship of God, edification through the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, proclamation of the gospel through word and deed, and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Eschatology
Jesus’ return to earth will be personal and visible and at His return He will establish His kingdom.
I believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.