Pete Stephens
My name is Peter Stephens, but everyone (except my wife) calls me Pete. Feel free to call me Pete . I was born on a warm spring day in Riverside California. My mom was incarcerated at the time of my birth, and she had to give me away; lucky for me God was watching, as he is with all his children. I was taken in by a family of Christian dairy farmers and spent my early childhood on their farm in Corona, CA. I made frequent visits to see my mom since the prison was only a few miles away. When I was two and a half, my mom was released from prison, and I was back in her custody. My dad died when I was only three months old, so it was just she and I on our own. My mom became very sick due to thyroid problems, and she became bed-ridden. She was so sick that she could barely stand, and the courts decided that she was in no shape to raise a son; I'm sure the drugs that were found in the house didn't help matters. So again, I was separated from her, but this time I was at the mercy of the courts. By the time I was seven, I had been in six different foster homes, none of which I would care to go back to. I had a longing for only one thing, my mom. I prayed every night that God would reunite us, and that we could be a family again. The day before my eighth birthday, a court hearing had been set for my mom to battle the state for full custody. Things were looking very grim for her as the court had multiple issues against her being an unfit mother, but again, the Lord was watching. In a sudden turn of events the man that the courts were going to grant custody of me, admitted to being a sexual offender, after some intense questioning by my Mother's lawyer. I know that my life would have been SO much different had I been given into the hands of a predator, but the Lord keeps his children close to his heart! It was an amazing thing, and after eleven months of separation, my mom and I were reunited. Times were still tough, and even though my mom had herself together, she still suffered health problems, and had to keep a full time nurse. It was hard for us because we couldn't do things that normal families could do, there were no picnics, or playing in the park; but my mom and I still and an awesome relationship. Many times we had no money, but we were rich in love. A few times we had no place to live, but we had each other. My mom was a praying mom, and she prayed not only in the hard times, but in good times as well. She taught me that no matter what life throws at you, it is your choice what you do with it. I was eighteen when my mom passed away of cardiac arrest. There is not a day that goes by when I don't think about her, but I know that she's in heaven were she doesn't have to feel pain, or shed tears of sadness. I'm talking about my mom so much because I want you to understand that I am living proof that overcoming obstacles is a choice to make. I am not a child of the "system" even though I was left to their mercy many times; but I am a child of God, recognizing that only in Him can I stand strong, and find hope for each day. My life has been filled with ups and downs, but when I look back and really evaluate the situation, even when I couldn't feel God's presence, I see now that he was always there. Watching, and waiting for the right time to act so that his glory could be fulfilled to the max. I now serve the Lord by using the gifts and talents he has given me to be a youth pastor and worship pastor at Shepherd's House Church of the Nazarene in San Jacinto, CA. The only reason I am successful in ministry is because I have allowed God to use me; in Romans 12:1 Paul talks about being a "Living Sacrifice" for God, I strive for this everyday. However many times I fail and I fall I know that the Lord is working in my life and in my family's life. My wife is a Junior High Math teacher. It is amazing to see how far the two of us have come. In March of 2005 the Lord blessed us with a beautiful baby girl, Cadence Elizabeth Stephens, and on January 1st, 2008 we were blessed with our first son! Ryan Peter Stephens is a healthy baby boy and a real gift from God. We are thankful for all of the Lord's blessings in our lives.
