Steve Dye: Passionate new Associate VP of Christian Ministries

By Madison Dyer

Steve Dye attended Cedarville University before the Bible courses were arranged nicely into “Biblical Studies.” He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in pre-seminary as well as history. He served in several different ministry positions before being led to long-term missions in Berlin, Germany. Now, he has returned to campus, stepping into the role of associate vice president of Christian Ministries.

Christian Ministries of Cedarville University oversees the entire chapel experience. They organize the music and lights and recording. Additionally, they are responsible for Discipleship Ministries, including the D-Groups. Finally, they coordinate Global Outreach teams, which branch out and provide various ministries.

Dye described it as the outlet of Cedarville University, like the Jordan river is to the Sea of Galilee.

“This rough and wild sea, you know the stories in the Gospels about what happens on the Sea of Galilee with the storms,” Dye said. “But it has an outlet, it has the Jordan River. And that’s kind of how I look at Christian Ministries.”

Post graduation, Dye wanted to pursue seminary. He moved to Indiana with his wife, where she worked as a nurse while he studied. When he finished, they moved up to Michigan, and Dye pursued a Masters in theology while serving as the youth and outreach pastor of his local church. This church would eventually send his family to Germany.

After leading a short-term mission trip to Kiev, Ukraine, Dye felt moved to explore further ministry overseas. He wrote a letter to an old friend who was the president of a missions organization. The day after he sent it, he received a letter from that same friend, sharing an opportunity for ministry in Germany. It was too perfect to be a coincidence. The opportunity combined everything that Dye loved about ministry: local churches and outreach. 

“He shared about this ministry in Berlin –not even a ministry; it was just a vision at this point– to start an international church in Berlin,” Dye said. “And when I learned about that, it’s like it just jumped off the page of his letter.” 

Coordinating a send-off with their local church took some time, because the church leadership was not quite sure Dye should leave immediately. Eventually, they concluded that God was indeed leading his family to Berlin, and the Dye family set off in the spring of 2001. The adjustment was difficult, as Christianity was a rare religion in the area, but they loved the historical architecture of the city itself. They stayed for 23 years.

God provided Dye with a clear sign that it was time to go back to the states. First of all, in order to avoid a hassle with German law and legal issues involving social security, Dye was required to return to the US for at least a year. All his children had already returned, his youngest being a freshman at Cedarville this year. Also, the German church they had been serving was making incredible progress, having planted another church which was also thriving. 

At the same time, Dr. Jon Wood reached out to Dye, offering the associate vice president position. These factors combined and created the perfect sign. Dye saw it as his God-given chance to invest in the younger generation while utilizing his specific experience.

“This position kind of tied together, blended together kind of the experience and the love that I had,” Dye said.

When asked about the best way for students to get involved, he advised going to the Christian Ministry office in the Dixon Ministry Center, and just sharing your passions. He also emphasized that Cedarville is not a church, and students should put effort into being involved with their local church ministries.

“That combo of local church involvement and then connecting with someone in Christian Ministries, that would be a dream come true for us to work with you and try to see how you can use the gifts God has given you,” Dye said.

Madison Dyer is a Freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student, who grew up nearby the University. She likes to draw, play guitar and engage in general shenanigans.

Photo by Scott Huck