Our Pastor

Reverend Doctor Steven Reeves
Rev. Dr. Steven Reeves or more affectionately known as  “Pastor Steve”, is a man of faith and principle. He is a man of many talents. Born in Orange, New Jersey, Pastor Steve received several scholarships to attend Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio where he earned the Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree in 2005. His primary instruments were Piano and French Horn.

After graduating from Central State University, Pastor Steve received a Graduate Assistantship to attend The Ohio State University School of Music in Columbus, Ohio where he earned the Master of Music (MM) and Master of Arts(MA) in Music Education degrees in 2008. He studied the French Horn and Piano. Immediately after graduating from The Ohio State University, Pastor Steve competed and won a Doctoral Fellowship to attend Rutgers, The State University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He majored in French Horn and Pipe Organ performance. His research focused on the development and use of the Natural Horn for developing proficiency on the modern French Horn. In 2015 he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree. He has presented his research several times to several audiences. Pastor Steve also earned a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from the historic Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio in 2022.

Pastor Steve is a skilled musician. He has given recitals and has performed with many professional orchestras such as Sinfonietta Nova, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Wright State University Orchestra. Pastor Steve is also an accomplished Music Teacher. He served as the Director of Bands at Orange High School in Orange, New Jersey for several years. While at Orange High School he was responsible for all of the administrative and musical aspects of the program. He also reorganized the marching band in 2012 and renamed it the Orange High School Mighty Marching Tornadoes (OHS-MMT). He reorganized the entire band program which includes the formation of the Orange High School Symphonic Band and the Orange High School Athletic Band.

At present, he is the General Music teacher at Belle Haven Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio. He teaches nearly 500 students in grades Kindergarten through Sixth grade different aspects of Music such as Music Theory, Singing, Aural Skills and Note Reading. He also established the Belle Haven Unified Chorus and the Belle Haven Orff Ensemble within the Belle Haven Elementary School Music Department.

Pastor Steve has several years of experience as a minister and pastor. He became a Licensed Minister at St. Paul AME Church In Columbus, Ohio in 2006 where he served as an Associate Minister. He served as an Associate Minister at Mt. Zion AME Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 2016 he was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in the New Jersey Annual Conference. Upon transferring back to Ohio, Pastor Reeves served as the Associate Minister at Allen Chapel/St. Paul AME Church in North College Hill, Ohio. In 2018 he was appointed to serve as the Pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Milford, Ohio. In 2019 he was appointed to serve as the Pastor of St. Luke AME Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2023 Pastor Steve was ordained an Itinerant Elder at the Third District Planning Meeting.

Pastor Steve is a member of several organizations including the: National Education Association, Dayton Education Association, National Band Association, International Horn Society, Kappa Kappa Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha. Pastor Steve  is a family man. He is married to his best friend and partner in the ministry of almost 25 years, Beth Reeves who is an Opera Singer. Together they have three sons, Sterling, Donovan and Kevin.