A longstanding Seventh-day Adventist pastor, who led the church’s popular Adventist Cup Match, held on the Sunday before the Annual Classic, was remembered this year with a moment of silence.

David D.W. Steede II was installed in January as the pastor of the Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church. He brought his trademark enthusiasm and love of people to the role.

He was also the Bermuda Conference Youth Director, which put him in charge of all the island’s youth ministries, including its Pathfinders scouting wing — which he had planned to lead this August to the international “camporee” gathering.

Mr Steede previously served for six years as pastor of the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church, having pastored at several churches in the United States before coming home to Bermuda.

The congenial and down-to-earth clergyman was familiar to many from his preaching on the Adventist television show Reflections, which is also broadcast on the radio.

Mr Steede had planned to return to the show this September.

Mr Steede was approachable, good-humoured and loved to talk, his family said. He had a flair for making new acquaintances feel like good friends.

Many church members said he was instrumental in leading them back to their faith.

He was a keen cook and his cookies were popular with friends and church members. But he also enjoyed keeping the recipe secret.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette, Mr Steede described how he brought home his style of pastoring from the US.

He said: “The biggest takeaway for me is the same God that was with me in the United States – for some people they may see it as a shock – but He actually came across with me to Hamilton.

“The same God that was in the US is also here in Bermuda.

“Leading Hamilton to financial greatness reminded me that the same God that helped me lead all these other churches came with me, and it's kind of special to know that He operates the same in all countries.

“I came to Hamilton, having witnessed these principles work in all these churches in the States. I asked if it would work here, and it did.

“So, as I come from Hamilton to Southampton, I’m not wondering; I already know it works, so it’s just time to go to work and give this church my utmost best.”

He said he enjoyed bringing out people’s “hidden gifts”.

Mr Steede said: “I feel like, as the pastor, I have the responsibility to try to pull those gifts out and use them best for God’s service.

“I am always amazed and surprised at the talent in congregations that so many don’t know about.

“I'm excited about finding out what people's gifts are and what their strengths are. I believe it is a reflexive relationship.”

Mr Steede was born and raised in the church and spent much of his childhood at White’s Island in Paget, where his family worked and lived.

As a young man, he played football with North Village.

He was educated at the Bermuda Institute from kindergarten to Grade 12, and in his latest role enjoyed the school being near his Southampton church.

Mr Steede attended Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, followed by Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Back in Bermuda, he met RaShall, whom he married, and the couple had two children, David and Summer Steede.

• David Donald Winfield Steede II, pastor of the Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church, was born on October 22, 1975. He died on July 18, 2024, aged 48