Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart Jr., who prior to accepting the call to The First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, Nebraska in 2007 was the Pastor, Head of Staff from 2004 to 2007 at The First Presbyterian Church of Caruthersville, Missouri, a church of 275 members in Southeast Missouri. Prior to Caruthersville, he was the solo pastor from 1996 to 2004 at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairbury, Illinois.
Rev. Kirwin graduated with a B.A. from Western Illinois University in December of 1991 and received his Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in December of 1995. He was ordained in 1996. He then completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from the Andersonville Theological Seminary in 2002. Prior to his college education, Rev. Kirwin served four years as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy.
His profound faith in Jesus Christ and enthusiasm of spreading God’s word is contagious. He and his wife are both involved in church youth activities and he very much enjoys visitations and leading a variety of Bible studies. He is meticulous with worship services and preaches Bible based sermons that relate to current topics and life events. He believes that a cornerstone of any ministry begins with pastoral care and visitation. He has an unquenchable thirst to serve the Lord and understands how important it is for a church to have a strong model of faith in the pulpit. He does not look at his position of pastor as a job, but sees it for what it truly is, a calling from God. He assures us that he will always treat it as such.
He serves as Chair for the Presbytery of Central Nebraska Personnel Committee, and is chair of the Administrative Commission for Sudanese Fellowship Ministry.
Kirwin and his wife Deanna were high school sweethearts and have been married for 26 years. Deanna enjoys sewing, crafts, and reading. She is currently working as the Secretary for First Presbyterian Church and works as a care provider for Nebraska Health and Human Services. Deanna also serves as a board member for the Holdrege Food Pantry.
Rev. Kirwin and Deanna have three children. Brandon is 24, a 2004 graduate of Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indianna. He works for the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. Noah is16 and a junior at Holdrege High School where he is on the Varsity track team, a member of the Gold Dust Singers and Concert Choir. He is also active in the church youth group and a member of the Property Committee. Elizabeth is 15 and a sophomore at Holdrege High School where she is on the Volleyball and Tennis teams, and Art society.