Paul Stevens

As a child, I attended a small Southern Baptist church in Lemon Grove (near San Diego), CA, where the Word of God was clearly taught. When I was six years old my parents divorced, and a year later, in response to a gospel message, I went forward and prayed with the pastor to receive Christ's forgiveness. I was baptized several weeks later.

When I was fourteen, my mom married a man who had recently graduated from seminary, and a year later, as I was entering high school, our family moved to a small town in Utah to establish a community church. The area was about 95 percent Mormon and, needless to say, I didn't fit in. I was ostracized, not because I was a Christian, but simply because I wasn't a Mormon. I had grown very little in my walk with the Lord, and there was little in my life that testified of Christ.

After my junior year in high school, I rebelled against my parents and my beliefs, purposely living in an ungodly manner for the next three years. Then, in the summer after my sophomore year in college, a team of college youth from CA came to my church to participate in our Vacation Bible School. For the next two weeks, while I as still getting drunk every night, I observed how these Christian young people lived, and had ample opportunity to interact with them. I saw in their lives and behavior what had been missing in my life. Having turned my back on God, my life had become empty. Nothing that the world had to offer (and it offered abundantly) was fulfilling. A few weeks after this group left I recommitted my life to God, basically saying, "Lord, whatever you want."

Two weeks later, in late August of 1964, I left Utah, with a battered car and $50, to spend a week with the family of one of the young men from CA. I clearly sensed God saying, "go," though I had no idea why. To make a long story short, within a month I had become a student at BIOLA College (though registration had closed four months earlier), and my new friend's family had taken me in, refusing to take any payment for room and board.

God has similarly provided for my every need from that point on. I am married to a beautiful Christian woman, and God has given us four great kids and six wonderful grandchildren. After a satisfying 33-year career with the federal government, I was able to retire at a relatively young age in order to seek a position of vocational service to God in Christian ministry. He has graciously provided the opportunities I sought, and I am delighted to be currently serving HaDavar, on a part time basis, as an Administrative Assistant.

Paul Stevens  

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