From the Lake Cable Clubhouse to Two Campuses
St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church began in 1967 as the dream of a handful of Lutheran families living in the fast-growing Lake Cable neighborhood on the northwest side of Canton, Ohio. With no building of their own, they gathered for worship and Sunday school at the Lake Cable Clubhouse, and the small group slowly took on the shape of a congregation. The new church was named for St. Stephen, the early Christian martyr, and in 1971 the members dedicated their first permanent building on Fulton Drive NW.
The next decades brought steady expansion. By the mid-1980s the church had outgrown its classrooms, and during a committee meeting one member broke the usual script by saying, "I think it's time to build a whole new church." Pastor Ned McMillen, who had served the congregation since 1968, recalled the long silence that followed, and then the energy that took hold. A design-build contractor was hired, a building committee was appointed, and the new sanctuary was completed. A third building followed shortly before Pastor McMillen's retirement in 1999. Under his successor, Pastor Roth, St. Stephen Martyr grew into one of the larger congregations of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Trinity Lutheran merged with St. Stephen Martyr in 2011, expanding the congregation further. In 2021 the church adopted a second campus with the addition of Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church in nearby Louisville, Ohio. The original Fulton Drive location is now known as the Belden Campus, and the Louisville Campus continues its own ministry under the St. Stephen Martyr umbrella. Today the congregation's motto, "a church where love lives," and a GROWTH acrostic that shapes its ministry (Gracious Generosity, Real Relationships, Outward Mission, Authentic Worship, Faithful Teaching, Honoring God and Neighbor) point back to the founding families and forward to the work still to come. The mission, simply stated, is to help people experience God's love so they can grow to love like Christ.
Three Sunday Morning Services
Three Sunday morning services define the worship life of St. Stephen Martyr. Traditional worship is offered at 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM, while a contemporary service called The Gathering is held at 9:30 AM. The 8:00 and 9:30 services are livestreamed on the church's Facebook page and through a YouTube channel for those joining from home. Each service begins on time and typically lasts about an hour.
The services follow the Lutheran pattern of liturgy, hymns, prayers, and biblical teaching. An invocation or call to worship opens the time, followed by congregational singing accompanied by organist and musicians. Ushers hand out a bulletin that outlines the order of worship, and readings from both Old and New Testaments are paired with a sermon that draws out practical application and spiritual encouragement. The service includes prayers of confession and forgiveness, prayers of thanksgiving, and intercessory prayers for the church, the community, and the world. Holy Communion is celebrated at every service and is open to all baptized Christians, and Baptisms are scheduled with the pastoral team.
The contemporary 9:30 service features music drawn from across the modern Christian landscape. Recent setlists have included songs like "Magnificent God," "Love Has Won," "Reckless Love," "Battle Belongs," "What A Beautiful Name," "My Lighthouse," "Rescuer," and "Joyful." After every service, members and visitors are invited to gather in the fellowship area for conversation and refreshments. Newcomers can stop by the Welcome Center, where greeters are ready to answer questions and help families find their way.
Music as Ministry
Music is one of the most visible threads running through the life of St. Stephen Martyr, and the church counts five ensembles among its Music Ministries. Voices in Praise is the adult vocal choir that provides a meaningful and inspiring element to worship each week. Voices in Bronze is the adult handbell choir for experienced ringers, performing with handbells and handchimes. Agape Ringers welcomes less experienced or beginning musicians and offers training in handbell technique, music theory, and sight-reading alongside fellowship and community building.
The younger generation finds a home in Bells of Promise, the handbell choir for students in grades 1 through 12. No prior music experience is required, and the group performs during worship services and special events, learning teamwork and a sense of responsibility along the way. The Praise Team leads The Gathering at 9:30 with a rotating setlist of contemporary songs; the team's weekly song lists are posted online so members can follow along at home and listen again during the week.
The choirs are directed by Steve Parsons (Choir Director), Debbie Elsass (Handbell Choir Director), and Kathy Miller (Organist), with Cliff Varian leading The Gathering. Together, the music ministries shape the sound and feel of every Sunday morning at St. Stephen Martyr.
Family Ministries
The Family Ministry at St. Stephen Martyr is built around the conviction that family shapes a person's life and that a church can come alongside families in both the joys and the challenges. A staffed nursery is available during worship services for little ones, and a cry room is set aside for parents who want to step out with a fussy child while still hearing the service.
Kid's Church serves children from preschool through fifth grade. The program uses interactive lessons to bring Bible stories to life, with discussion and activities designed to encourage questions, exploration, and a deepening relationship with God. Confirmation studies begin in sixth grade and continue through eighth grade, leading students toward an adult profession of faith. The high school youth program adds regular fellowship and service opportunities, and a monthly High School Brunch with Pastor Andrew is a long-standing tradition (Pastor Andrew treats).
Family Ministries also produces family-oriented events, parenting discussions, and resources for nurturing spiritual growth at home. Stephanie Liotti serves as Director of Children and Family Ministries, and parents are encouraged to stop by the Welcome Center on Sunday morning for help getting situated.
Reaching Out Beyond the Walls
St. Stephen Martyr's outreach spans the immediate neighborhood and the wider world. The congregation's stewardship supports the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Urban Ark, Habitat for Humanity, and Christ for All Rural Missions in Ghana, and members are encouraged to consider the gift of their time and talents alongside their financial giving. As Pastor Andrew has written, St. Stephen has become "a congregation that people can count on."
Within the church, four ongoing ministries put hands and hearts to work. The Lutheran World Relief Quilters sew quilts from donated materials, including recycled fabrics, clothing, and blankets, and ship them to refugees, homeless individuals, and families affected by natural disasters and poverty around the world. The Card Making Ministry creates handmade greeting cards used for encouragement, sympathy, and congratulations. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls for people going through illness, grief, or other difficult seasons, with each shawl accompanied by prayers and blessings. The Home Communion Team visits those who are sick, homebound, or hospitalized, providing emotional support, prayer, bereavement support, and practical help such as meals, transportation, and household tasks.
Small Groups and Fellowship
Small group ministry at St. Stephen Martyr is built on the idea that faith is best lived in company. The Bridge of Faith Card Playing Fellowship combines a love of bridge with conversation and connection among members. Good News Great Times plans fellowship events that take the congregation beyond Sunday morning, including the annual Oktoberfest held in the pavilion, a family-friendly evening of brats, beverages, and a German-themed potluck.
Ladies Night Out gathers women for dinner at local restaurants. Men in Spirits offers men a chance to grow together in faith and friendship. We're So Board is a monthly board game night for adults. Pastor Andrew's monthly High School Brunch brings the youth together around the table. Whether card players, foodies, game enthusiasts, or simply looking for company, members find a way to connect.
Pastoral Care and the Sacraments
Pastoral care at St. Stephen Martyr is an everyday ministry. The pastors make hospital and home visits, offer counseling, and connect individuals with resources and support networks. Members can submit prayer requests to the church, and the prayer chain lifts up individual needs within the congregation. The Home Communion Team brings the sacrament to those who cannot attend in person, and Bereavement support is offered to families who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Weddings and funerals are coordinated through dedicated guides, and the staff can arrange for volunteers to provide a meal following a funeral. During Lent the church hosts an annual Passover Seder that walks through the Jewish festival's fifteen steps, drawing connections between the Passover story and the Last Supper. The service includes matza, charoset, bitter herbs, salt water, and wine (or grape juice), with congregants learning Hebrew prayers and discovering the depths of the shared story between the Jewish festival and the Christian Eucharist. Pastor Doug has also led Holy Land trips for members who want to walk the biblical sites in person.
Leadership and the Call Process
St. Stephen Martyr is currently led by Andrew Potsko, Pastor of Faith & Community Formation, and Douglas Fidler, Visitation Pastor. They serve alongside a wider team that includes Stephanie Liotti as Director of Children and Family Ministries, Cindy Hina as Director of Engagement, and the music directors and operations staff. The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM, and can be reached at 330-492-4591 or ssmartyr@wherelovelives.org.
In late 2025 the Congregation Council appointed a Call Committee to begin searching for the congregation's next lead pastor. The committee completed a comprehensive snapshot of the church's mission, vision, and the qualities it hopes to find in its next leader and submitted it to the Northeastern Ohio Synod. The Call Committee meets regularly, prepares for interviews, and asks the congregation for continued prayer through the discernment process. When a primary candidate is identified, a congregational vote will follow the standard ELCA process.
The congregation also publishes a monthly newsletter called The Pew Review and a weekly e-Pew Review email to keep members connected between Sundays. Visitors are invited to stop by the Welcome Center any Sunday morning; greeters will help families get settled, and the pastors enjoy the chance to shake a hand and offer a personal welcome to anyone walking through the door. From the Lake Cable Clubhouse to two campuses, from one sanctuary to three buildings, and from a handful of founding families to a congregation that fills three Sunday services, St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church has grown in step with the Lake Cable and Louisville communities it serves, a church where love lives.