Steven Turley studied Economics at Stanford before entering Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv). After seminary, he served as Pastor of Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel in Nogales, AZ, developing a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual church family on the Mexican border. He later earned an MA and PhD in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a specialty in Spanish and Latin American Church History. His dissertation was published in 2014 by Ashgate as Franciscan Spirituality and Mission in New Spain, 1524-1599: Conflict Beneath the Sycamore Tree.

Upon graduating from UW-Madison, having developed a passion for bringing the treasures of church history to bear on 21st-century ministry, Dr. Turley returned to pastoral work, spending ten years with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries at Rice University. He has also been active in small group ministry and pastoral care at Ecclesia Houston, and has taught courses and seminars all over Houston.