Steve Gray’s story begins in McPherson, Kansas, as a young man. He grew up with a pastor as his father, but never really had an interest in his father’s passion until later in life, when he felt a calling from the lord.
Gray graduated from high school in McPherson, Kansas, in 1985. He grew up in a very religious setting.
Steve didn’t want anything to do with the church when he was younger. He graduated from high school a year early. Steve graduated at 17 years old, “very high intelligence, very bad common sense,” Steve jokes.
After high school, he fell away from the Lord for a couple of years. “But I knew that I had been called since age five, God kept telling me I was gonna be a pastor,” Steve stated.
He always knew he was supposed to be a pastor, but he just didn’t want to be one. “I ran from the lord for a couple of years,” Steve said.
Steve has been planting churches for over 20 years. They had just finished leading a time in Arizona. Steve had resigned from his position and prayed to God, asking for guidance on what he should do.
“I’ve been spoken to very clearly three times in my life by the lord, and he said Go home and bring salvation to your city,” Steve stated. He didn’t understand what that meant at the time.
He had a different idea of what that meant, but that’s what brought Steve and Marlene back to McPherson.
Steve had six books on the market, he has consulted all over the world, Steve has planted 180 churches on five continents, and he has worked with some of the largest churches in the United States.
Six years ago, Steve and Marlene came to McPherson to start a church. “We asked the same question everyone else did: who would want another church in McPherson,” Steve says.
This church is very different, you dont have to fit in with everyone there, and they dont require people to dress or look a certain way. “We just want people to be here and be authentic,” Steve says.
Steve is retiring from being a pastor at the end of this year. Marlene and Steve have been doing this for 40 years as of the end of December. Marlene retires from the children’s ministry at the same time Steve retires from being a pastor.
Steve says, “I think it will be a bit of a change for us, but I think we’re both looking forward to being able to worship together as a family.”
Marlene grew up in a small town in Missouri. Marlene lived in two places her whole life. She was born in Minnesota, and then they moved to Missouri.
Marlene’s mom had a background in Free Methodist, and her dad was Lutheran. There was neither in the small town, so they went to a Christian church.
Marlene’s aunt lived in McPherson, and it became a second home for Marlene; she had so many family members who lived there at the time.
Steve and Marlene met when they were both attending Central Christian here in McPherson.
When Marlene and Steve started the church, she was excited but also nervous because everyone was saying We dont need churches anymore. This excited her because she had found someone who shared her interest in the Lord.
Steve and Marlene adopted two young girls. “They have completed our family, I would say.”
At Revolution Church, you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not; you can be yourself, and no one will judge you there.
Revolution always has a Christmas event on December 24 around 6:00 or 6:30.
