The church is the best place to raise a child, said Steve Simpson, pastor of Bethel Christian Assembly Faith Fellowship, 4006 Cottage Ave. in North St. Louis. Simpson referred to himself as a “pew baby” and says his personal achievements are a direct result of his spiritual upbringing at Kennerly Temple Church of God In Christ, under the leadership of then Pastor R.J. Ward.
Simpson is serving in his first lead pastoral role after 10 years as assistant pastor to Eugene Garrison, former pastor of Bethel. Simpson leads a small congregation of 60 members, though he plans to grow the church’s membership.
Bethel is a nondenominational church, one of 10 churches founded by the late Bishop Dwight McDaniels, originally under the Church of God In Christ (COGIC) jurisdiction. McDaniels eventually severed his ties with COGIC, but Simpson said remnants of the denomination remain.
“If you came to one of our churches, you’d think we’re a part of the Church of God In Christ,” he said.
Church members, led by Pastor Garrison, voted to purchase Bethel from McDaniels more than 10 years ago.
Simpson described his own preaching style as practical. He has a knack for simplifying the gospel, making “stuff that happened thousands of years ago” applicable to today, he said. “I’m more of a teacher-preacher,” he said.
He believes in community outreach as well. He once gave free haircuts to the homeless through the Rev. Larry Rice’s barber shop ministry at New Life Evangelistic Center.
Simpson was trained at the Brookes Bible Institute, where he earned an associate’s degree in biblical studies. He has a second associate’s degree in data processing and computer programming, a degree he admitted “he never uses.” The valuable lessons he has learned in the church, however, are transferable skills he said he can use “in the secular world, also.”
“The church is a tremendous training field,” he said.
He joins John Watson Jr., Wayne Luster and Dave Scott as African-American firefighters in St. Louis who also serve as pastors. Of the four men, Simpson is the highest-ranking, holding the title of battalion chief at Lambert St. Louis-International Airport.
He oversees two engine houses at the airport. He and his staff are responsible for fire and medical emergencies that occur at the main and east terminals, as well as the airport’s surrounding area.
Simpson began his firefighting career as a private at Engine House No. 20, at 5600 Prescott Ave. near North Broadway in downtown St. Louis. He was promoted to captain within five short years. He taught a recruiting class at the St. Louis Fire Academy, the second-oldest fire academy in the United States. He was also hand-picked by then-Fire Chief Sherman George to work as a medical and public information officer at St. Louis Fire Department headquarters.
Simpson is a former member of the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), a fraternal and advocacy organization of African-American firemen in the city of St. Louis. However, as someone in a managerial position as battalion chief, he explained, he has become ineligible to be a member of F.I.R.E.
F.I.R.E.’s mission is to ensure the hiring, retention and upward mobility of African-American emergency service workers. In 1976, F.I.R.E. successfully sued and was granted the nation’s first court-ordered consent decree. As a result of this successful lawsuit, 50/50 hiring and promotional practices were instituted in the St. Louis Fire Department. F.I.R.E. became the first African-American firefighter organization to win a discrimination civil lawsuit against a city government. The 50/50 decree has since been overturned.
“The hiring process is just not the same” since the decree was overturned, he said. “You don’t see nowhere near the amount of African Americans” in the fire department now.
He said being a firefighter has been a blessing for him and his family that includes his wife, Izella, and daughters Mia, Simone and Tameka Milton.
This story is part three of a four-part feature series entitled, “F.I.R.E. in the Pulpit.”
Church: Bethel Christian Assembly Faith Fellowship, Inc.
Address: 4006 Cottage Ave., St. Louis, MO 63113
Denomination: Nondenominational
Pastor: Steve Simpson
First Lady: Izella Simpson
Membership: 60
Ministries: Prison, Children’s, Missions, Men, Women
