Stephen's Story
...Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. Isaiah 38:17
I sent an e-mail to a Christian brother, expressing concern that I hadn't heard from him in a while. He e-mailed me back that he had been having PC problems, and would write more later, but had to go to church early that night. A young man had recently started coming to his church. It appeared this young person had some disabilities. My friend wanted to make certain the young man clearly understood the scriptures and the Plan of Salvation. I briefly answered to let him know we would be praying. Again, some time passed and I didn't hear from him. On May 24th, I sent a message to a neighbor of his, asking her to check on Larry and his wife. Within a short period of time, I received this message from Larry:
About three months ago, a young man came to our church on the church van. From his physical appearance, dress, and social gestures, it was obvious he had some disabilities, but I just kinda let them ride. Two weeks later, I asked the van driver if she would bring him to church a little early the next Wednesday night. I wanted to talk to him about his salvation. Well, she did and I did. With me giving some very rudimentary examples, we talked about thirty minutes before God wonderfully and marvelously saved Stephen that night. Immediately, he began going throughout the congregation telling everyone about his salvation and telling them he wanted his family in church. Within a few days, he had his long hair cut and joined the choir (at least he held a song book and stood with the others). The next week he showed me a Bible he had bought. Throughout the service, I watched him scooting back and forth on the pew, asking those sitting nearby to help him find the texts. Last Monday, his mother went in at five a.m. to give him his seizure medication. Stephen was unresponsive. She started CPR, to no avail. The EMS pronounced him dead. When I learned of his death, I went to visit the family. His mother told me how he loved going to church. When he wanted to join the choir, the Director told him he would have to cut his long ponytail first. He did, but saved it in a book. Stephen's ponytail meant a lot to him, but being in the choir meant even more, which is just another piece of fruit validating his salvation. I thank God that He opened windows in Stephen's life. I thank God that Stephen was brought to a church that loved him. I thank God that he allowed him to be put on a van with a driver who went out of her way to get him to church early. I thank God that Stephen was allowed to hear a clear, on-his-level-of-understanding presentation of the Gospel. And I thank God that I was allowed to be a part of that presentation. However, the story does not end there. Stephen wanted his family in church and God honored that in such as way as I have never before seen. It was indeed marvelous to behold: that following Sunday, fifteen of his family came to church, filling an entire pew and then some. When Pastor Stuart gave the invitation, one-by-one they began leaving the pew and going to the altar. The result was, about eight people were saved. Six backsliders repented. Stephen's grandfather was the last to yield. Throughout the service, I watched him wiping his eyes. I knew he was under conviction. As the others moved forward, leaving him holding onto the pew, I began trying to "pray him out of that pew". God gave the increase when I finally saw "Bullet" follow his family to the altar. I later learned that "Bullet" has a reputation of being a hardened highway patrolman, who actually had once arrested his own mother and taken her to jail. After the service, when the family was standing in front for folks to come by and offer a handshake of fellowship, I stopped to talk to the grandfather. With tears cascading down his face, he told me, "My brother tried for years to get me to go to church with him, but when I wouldn't go, fifteen months later my brother died. When Stephen died on the 15th, I knew God was telling me something." As proof God was telling the family something, and as proof they truly got something that Sunday morning, they returned the same Sunday night, indicating they are joining the Pastor's "New Convert" class which breaks down our Baptist doctrine: what we believe and why we believe it. Stephen's stepfather, who was on the verge of becoming a Mormon Missionary to Mexico, is now under heavy conviction. Our church revisted him last night, spending more than an hour explaining God's Grace. As they left, his face showed something had given him some light. We fully expect him to be saved this weekend! I wish you could have seen it! To God be the Glory; great things He hath done!
By Larry Brotherton. Used with permission
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am... Isaiah 58:9
He Looked Beyond My Faults
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