Francisco, Steven (1959-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Jul 19 p. 1, 2

Birth date: 1959 Mar 12

text of obituary:

Pastor's death leaves his new congregation to continue his vision

By Laurie L. Oswald
MC USA News Service

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Right up until he died suddenly July 6 due to complications from surgery, Steven Francisco, 45, a longtime leader at Calvary Community Church in Hampton, was doing God's work, including planting a multiracial church.

Francisco served as associate pastor with his brother, Bishop Leslie Francisco III, senior pastor at Calvary, until the end of 2003. Then he launched Calvary C9ommunity Church West in Isle of Wight County. His wife, Karla, also a pastor, and a church-planting team joined him.

The new congregation — where about40 to 50 people attend — is one of several that Calvary Community has spawned in the last several years.

In an interview June 21, about two weeks before he died, the couple described how they were shaping Calvary West into a multiracial congregation. They wanted to help Calvary Community realize its dream of reaching out to all people and to help Mennonite Church USA be an antiracist denomination.

Steven Francisco became involved in the wider church when he coordinated the youth convention for the Mennonite Church and General Conference Mennonite Church at Nashville, Tenn., in 2001.

At Calvary West, the Franciscos embraced the challenge of starting a multiracial congregation.

"We've worked hard to use a blended worship style that includes not only gospel songs that the African-American community is familiar with but also contemporary worship music of all styles, Seven Francisco said.

"It's been really challenging for us to work this way since Karla and I grew up in predominantly African-American communities. . . . But so far in our new church, three white families are worshiping with us, and they've been such a blessing."

Francisco said the only way a multicultural congregation can form is if the pastors and the team are willing to make changes and to pray to tear down long-held racism. But he also believed God doesn't force peple to be open to all cultures and racial groups.

"God can't make a group be inclusive," Francisco said. "The group must decide that. God isn't going to so something to make Mennonite Church USA or Calvary to be antiracist. . . . We as people must wake up and cooperate. And then we will see God get involved and set more changes in motion."

Sadly, he won't help that dream to become reality in the years ahead. But, Kenyetta Aduma, director of Intercultural Relations for MC USA, believes he laid a good foundation for the ministry to flourish. She also believes his wife and the church-planting team are able to carry the vision if god leads.

"I'm certain that the new church can move forward," Aduma said. "I don't think Karla and the team are the kind of people who will just stop everything. That isn't what Steven would have wanted."

Aduma, a member at Calvary, said she received much guidance, blessing and inspiration from Francisco's ministry. The congregation of about 3,200 members held a celebration of his life July 10 at the church.

"Steven was someone who really had a heart for God, and he loved to give his all to do whatever it took to move God's work forward," Aduma said.

During the June 21 interview, Karla Francisco spoke with passion, equal to that of her late husband, for building a multiracial church on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"I've had to ask the Lord to do something new in me as we help him build this new congregation," she said. "I've had to repent of my own prejudices. . . . I told the Lord, 'Please help me to see people the way you see people. Help me to love people the way you love people. help me to have heart like your heart.'"

Speaking at the celebration of her husband's life, Karla Francisco described him as selfless and humble. She spoke of how hard it was to understand "why God took such a great man who seemed to be in the prime of his life." But then, she said, God gave her a revelation.

"There's a lot of work going on in heaven to make things happen on the Earth," she said. "God said, 'See your husband up in glory . . being the master administrator, making sure everything takes place." Steven loved something new. He loved change. . . . I know he's having a ball with this new thing.

"I want you [Calvary church] to be comforted . . . knowing that Steven has gone on to a higher calling."

Steven Francisco was born march 12, 1959, in Newport News, the son of Bishop Leslie W. Francisco II and Naomi R. Taylor. He was ordained to the ministry in 1990, after which he served as associate pastor at Calvary Community Church until he and his wife established Calvary community Church West in December. He earned associate and bachelor's degrees in biblical studies from Carolina University of Theology.

Survivors include his wife, Karla; three children, Tiffany, Steve II and Taylor; his mother, Naomi; and two brothers, Leslie III and Myron. He was preceded in death by his father, Leslie II.