MONTE VISTA — The Monte Vista United Methodist Church welcomes Pastor Steve Dunkel as of September 17, 2017. 

Pastor Steve is originally from Creede, graduating from Creede High School in 1983.  He served in the United States Army in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from 1995 to 1996 and in the North Dakota National Guard between 1992 to June 1998.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Trinity Bible College, Ellendale, North Dakota in April 1981 and attended North American Baptist Seminary, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1993 to 1994, Assembly of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri 1997 to 1998 and Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 2006 to 2007 and has attended graduate level studies at other various seminaries. 

He worked as an underground miner at Newmont Mining Corporation from 2000 to 2005.  He taught as a substitute teacher in Havre, Montana from 2013 to 2014.  He has served as pastor at the United Methodist Church, Newberry, Indiana from 2008 to 2013 and last served at the Paonia United Methodist Church, Paonia, from 2015 to 2017. 

Pastor Steve received his certification as a Licensed Local Pastor by the United Methodist Rocky Mountain District on April 23, 2018.