His Courage Makes Me Brave

I started listening to Wisdom for the Heart because Maryann, a friend of mine, wouldn’t stop talking about this preacher from Cary, NC. She said she and her husband listened every day and one of the things on her bucket list was to go to Cary to hear Stephen preach and meet him. The last person Maryann recommended to me with such enthusiasm was Elizabeth Elliott, so when she gushed, I took notice. And I listened. And I LOVED the biblical teaching, Stephen’s humor, and his creative and interesting preaching style. I told her, “He reminds me of a younger Chuck Swindoll.” High praise in my mind, since I grew up in my faith listening to Chuck preach. And that laugh! Chuck was the only preacher I knew who seemed to LOVE teaching God’s Word—and had fun doing it—until Stephen.

I listened every day through several difficult ministry years. My husband was pastoring a small struggling church. That opportunity ended, and we were churchless. As we searched for a home church, we continued to listen and grow and feel “pastored” while we searched for our next in-person pastor. I’m an author with Our Daily Bread publishing, and oftentimes God would use a nugget of insight Stephen shared to spark a devotion for my latest book. I asked a few questions, and Stephen kindly answered them with personal emails. Like my friend Maryann, my husband and I have had the opportunity to hear Stephen preach in person and shared a copy of my latest devotional with my grateful thanks for being my “second pastor.” As he teaches me, I share the insights I gain from his messages with my readers, thus multiplying his influence even more. I'm grateful for his faithful commitment to preach the whole counsel of God’s Word. His courage makes me brave, and his teaching makes me more like Jesus. Thank you, Pastor Stephen!