Candidate for
Council Member; City of Lodi

BIOGRAPHY OF PASTOR STEVE JARRETT

Steve Jarrett was born and raised in Stockton. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969 and lettered in Cross Country. In his youth he was known as an excellent trumpet player. During this time he played for the San Joaquin Youth Orchestra, the Stockton Symphony as well as many local dance bands.

Steve joined the Navy in 1970 and was honorably discharged in 1974, serving three terms in Vietnam. During his time in the Navy he received the Combat Action Medal, Unit Citation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars.

Steve returned home after the Navy and attended Delta College. He soon discovered a desire to be in Law Enforcement and enrolled at Rio Hondo Police Academy in Whittier, California and served the Southern Pacific Railroad Police and the City of Glendale as a police officer.

In 1980 Steve married his wife of 24 years, Debbie. Their desire to raise a family outside of the Los Angeles area prompted Steve to become a Deputy Sheriff for the County of Fresno. He served there for 10 years beginning in 1982. While a deputy he was selected as Law Enforcement Officer of the year and received his department's Medal of Merit for his bravery in dealing with an armed individual threatening his family and himself.

During this time Steve also owned several businesses. He developed a tax preparation business, a small convenience store and a full service dog kennel.

In 1987 Steve came to faith in Jesus Christ through a rather remarkable conversion. As he grew in his knowledge and faith, it became evident to Debbie and him that it was time to leave law enforcement. So on his 10th year anniversary date in 1992, Steve left his career of 15 years.

Steve began teaching leadership to business management as an affiliate of the Covey Leadership Center. Soon, however, he was approached by four pastors who declared to him, that they felt he had been called into the ministry. With their help Steve, at the age of 40, began attending seminary at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno. Here was a three-tour Vietnam veteran, 15-year street cop attending a pacifist seminary! God does have a sense of humor!!

In his first year of seminary Steve helped the Presbyterian Church USA start a brand new church in Clovis, CA. In his last year of seminary he was given the opportunity to pastor a small United Methodist church in Chowchilla, just north of Fresno. Very quickly the part time position in Chowchilla grew into a full time position. Steve moved the family there and remained for three years.

In 1997 Steve was looking to move to a community closer to his widowed mother in Stockton and to a community with quality education for his children who were just entering high school. He was approached by a group of believers who wished to start a new church in Lodi.

On the first Sunday of July 1997, Steve, along with 43 believers, started a non-denominational church called New Hope Community Church of Lodi. Soon the church will celebrate its seventh birthday. New Hope is know as a church that accepts people as they are, loves people into a relationship with Jesus and grows them in that relationship so that they can have a better life both here and now and for eternity.

Last July Steve left full time ministry. This was a very difficult decision however it was evident to him that New Hope was ready for a new pastor. Steve felt good about serving 8 years as their pastor. Normally Steve would have found a new church to pastor in another town, however this was not possible because of the care and support his mother-in-law , how lives with Steve and Debbie, is in need of at this time.

Steve embarked on a new career of REALTOR. He finds many of the skills he used in pasturing to be helpful in being a good real estate agent. He works for Nor-Cal realty Solutions, here in Lodi.

Since being in Lodi, Steve has served in several volunteer positions, including:

· Lodi High Site Committee for two years;

· United Way Lodi Community Council for three years;

· Lodi representative on the FEMA Council of San Joaquin County for one year;

· Volunteer Probation officer on the Youth Accountability Board of Lodi for four years;

· Commissioner on the San Joaquin County Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Prevention Commission for two years;

· Law Enforcement Chaplain for the Lodi Police Department for two years.

Steve believes his greatest achievement to date (outside of his service to Jesus) while in Lodi was serving as the Treasurer of the Foundation that built the Lodi All Veterans Plaza.

Steve is married to Debbie, who is an Instructional Aide working in special education classes for the Lodi Unified School District. They have a son Troy, 24 years old, who is a 1st Lt. in the National Guard assigned to the 20th Special Forces Airborne Group and is currently serving in Iraq. Their daughter, Stefany, 22, attends College and works part time at Vine & Branches Christian book store.