First United Methodist Church of Ennis

Rev. Stephen Ramsdell is currently the President of God is Big Enough Ministries. "God is Big Enough Ministries" is an incorporated non-profit ministry built around the theme of God is Big Enough for any circumstance, including the local church. This ministry is designed to assist a local pastor in building a healthy church that has growth, hope an faith as it core

Rev. Stephen Ramsdell was born on March 17th, 1953 in San Angelo, Texas, and is the oldest son of an Air Force Officer.

Steve, as he is called, is married to Susan Oakes Ramsdell. Susan is a gifted musician who is proficient with organ, bells and the flute. She is a graduate of Mary Hardin Baylor with a degree in elementary education.

They have three children, Matthew, Deborah, and Christopher. Matthew and his wife Beth have two children, Addison Grace and Levi Oakes. Christopher and his wife Raschael have twin boys; Liam Kenneth and Layton Coleman, and a daughter Emma Joy. Grandchildren are one of the best gifts from God for pastor Steve and he share about them often at every opportunity. They are a continual source of sermon illustrations. Deborah lives in Washington D.C.

Pastor Steve graduated from Southwestern in 1979 with a degree in Christian Ministry, followed by a Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University.

He served in the United States Navy in the Area of Photographic Intelligence during the Viet Nam Era, serving on board an air craft carrier the USS John F. Kennedy. has a special love for veterans, active duty military and their families.

Steve has pastored United Methodist Churches all over Central Texas and just retired from full time active ministry in 2017. He spent the last 20 years as the Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Waco. First in was one of the 100 largest United Methodist Churches in the country. He currently is President of God is Big Enough Ministries and through this ministry does clergy coaching as well as connecting local churches to resources to encourage growth and health in the local church.

He was awarded the Outstanding Local Church award in 1985 by the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Morris Walker Award in 1994 and the Harry Denman Evangelism award in 2013. Along with many others awards and recognitions he began the God is Big Enough movement, which includes a God is Big Enough wrist band that are seen all over the world. The idea and application of the wrist band began while he was undergoing cancer treatments at MD Anderson in 2010.

Hey ya’ll!  I’m Christen and I am working on my 5^th year as the Minister to Students here at FUMC in Ennis.  I made a grand entrance into this great, big world in Chicago, Illinois some years ago, but no worries my parents loved me enough to get me to Texas while I was still a baby.  So, I am more Texan than not!  I was raised in Palmer, just right up the road from Ennis, and graduated from Palmer High School.  After graduating high school, I attended Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, but decided I wasn’t a city girl and came back to Palmer.  (It’s true what they say…Austin is weird!)  I have 2 grown children, Clayton and Landree, who are in college.  I am super proud of the young adults that they have become (even though they make me crazy some days), but they are loved BIG by their momma.  I am very involved in the community, both Palmer and Ennis, and have a heart for working with young people and outreach.  When I’m not working with the youth, children or involved in an outreach event, I enjoy spending time with the people who make my heart happy or going for a jog.   I am known as the prankster around the office and tend to find humor in most things.  I love to laugh!  I feel a smile and laughter are contagious and do my best to spread joy daily by allowing Christ’s light to shine through me!   

MY PURPOSE:

Helping people reflect and respond to the glory of God.

MY FAVORITE THINGS:

I like to try new restaurants (although my wife almost always cooks better), I enjoy making model planes and boats, and I enjoy doing small wood projects

I'M MOST PROUD OF:

I am proud of my parents and my siblings. They serve the Lord and our some of the hardest working individuals I know

SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO DO:

There is so much I’d like to do, but at the very top: Go to Israel, Greece, and Italy. Meet Denzel Washington, graduate with my sanity from Dallas Theological Seminary, and lead others to Christ.

WHO MAKES ME LAUGH THE HARDEST:

My brother Donathan, he has a way of taking everyday life and showing the humor in it.

WHAT ERA OF MUSIC GETS YOUR TOES TAPPING AND FEET MOVING?

I like 70’s dance music, but I was born two decades later.

• B.A. Psychology 2011 – Lee University
• M.A. Human Resource Management 2017- Florida Institute of Technology
• Th.M. (when it happens)- Dallas Theological Seminary