The Baney Family
Pastor and missiologist Steve Baney is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Steve holds an undergraduate degree in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in computer science from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, a graduate degree as Master of Divinity with high honors from Ashland Theological Seminary, and a PhD in missiology with highest honors from Concordia Theological Seminary. He is the author of over a dozen books, including Shaping Worship and The Daily Devo. Steve lives with his wife, two kids, and crazy dog in northwest Ohio.
Steve is thankful to be the pastor of Wauseon Community Church, a Church of the Nazarene in Wauseon, Ohio. The Baney family moved to northwestern Ohio in 2012, accepting a call to pastor an independent church, and later began serving in the denomination of the Church of the Nazarene, acquiring a local license, district license, and ordination as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Steve accepted the call to Wauseon in 2023.
There are a number of ways that Steve personally ministers in their church. These include preaching, praying for our church and community, leading the church board, officiating communion, baptizing believers, hospital calls, crisis intervention, and offering pastoral counseling.
Over the last several years Steve's other ministry in the Church has included leading worship, overseeing all of the adult Sunday school classes and small groups, training group leaders, selecting and designing adult curriculum, designing worship for holidays and special events, preaching, serving as a board member, leading a small group Bible study, and more as needed. Steve thankful for these opportunities to serve through the Church.
Worship is the expression of reverence, adoration, and submission to God. It includes our actions, words, attitude, and posture. It encompasses all of life, including the way we work, spend free time, and gather with the church on Sundays. Worship can be done individually in solitude, but also includes joining with others as a group. As a congregation, worship is often expressed through singing, reading the Bible, preaching, praying, and giving. Music enhances worship as it enables us to join with other worshippers. Worship both reflects and affects the condition of our heart toward God.
Steve's favorite lead worshippers and bands include...
My philosophy of ministry is important to me because it helps me to identify what is most important to me, evaluate difficult decisions, and remain accountable to pursuing what God has asked me to do. The call to pastoral ministry comes from...
When asked to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Part of the way we love God with our mind is by...
PhD in Missiology
2023
Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne, IN
MDiv (Master of Divinity)
2007
Ashland Theological Seminary - Ashland, OH
BA in Pastoral Ministry
2002
With a concentration in computer science
Mount Vernon Nazarene University - Mount Vernon, OH
Being trapped in sin is like living without being alive. Some are ignorant to their spiritual death. Others are apathetic. Many feel hopeless. This was the way I felt, hopelessly trapped in sin. I’d like to share with you the story of how Jesus Christ changed my life...
Whether you're holding a microphone, playing a keyboard, strumming a guitar, or running a sound system, the example you set can either lead people toward worship or away from it. Worship leaders around the world have benefitted from applying the lessons in this book.
