Steve D. Shipley
About me: I was born in Dallas, Texas January 1, 1939. I was born
again by and through the power of the Holy Spirit in 1960. My
father was a minister and I was raised in a Christian home. As the
son of the pastor naturally I was expected to be active in the
church. In spite of the fact that I was not saved at the time I was
very involved in all the youth activities eventually becoming
leader of youth ministries.
Although I loved my family very much and respected my parents I
felt restricted by their expectations of me. I longed for freedom
and adventure in my life so after graduating from high school I
enlisted in the U.S. Navy and left home. Thus began my life as a
“prodigal’. Very soon I began to follow the life style I had longed
for in my heart. I traveled far away from home without all the
restrictions and rules I had been forced to follow. For the first
time in my life I felt free to do as I pleased without any thought of
consequences. The regulations of the Navy were nothing
compared to those I had been subjected to at home.
I was not the same as the “Bible Prodigal,” in (Luke 15: 11-24). I
had friends, food, and a ship to call home. In spite of all these
“freedoms” and friends I began to feel alone and dissatisfied. I
was becoming painfully aware that all the exciting foreign places
and people couldn’t fill the void deep within me. I felt hungry for
something I couldn’t define.
My not too distant past began coming back to me. I remembered
the many times I had heard my father talk about God; how He was
always present and ready to forgive us. How His being near could
take away my loneliness and the hunger I felt. I remembered what
I had heard and read about the Holy Spirit conviction, and I began
to understand what was happening in my life. I was a “Prodigal”.
That evening in May, on the catwalk of the USS Benningtron CVA
20, I returned to the teachings of my father and found my
heavenly Father waiting to receive me; just as he had been all
along. I gave Him my heart and soon felt the call to serve Him
through the ministry. My enlistment was up in April of nineteen
sixty one. When I was discharged I returned home and went back
to school earning a BA in Psychology and a Masters in “Christian
Counseling”. I continued with my education and received a
Theology Degree from Criswell Bible College. Since 1961 I have
pastored many churches in many places but always in the service
of my Father.
I have three grown children by first wife, Artis who after forty six
years of marriage went home to be with the Lord. I am now
married to my second wife Jean who has been a blessing sent
from God. We minister together and Jean will from time to time
have a column in this ministry “Bible Prodigal.”
May God richly bless us all, you, Jean, and me. As we serve and
grow together through the Word of God and His Holy Spirit.
Pastor Teacher
Steve Shipley
About me: I was born in Dallas, Texas January 1, 1939. I was born
again by and through the power of the Holy Spirit in 1960. My
father was a minister and I was raised in a Christian home. As the
son of the pastor naturally I was expected to be active in the
church. In spite of the fact that I was not saved at the time I was
very involved in all the youth activities eventually becoming
leader of youth ministries.
Although I loved my family very much and respected my parents I
felt restricted by their expectations of me. I longed for freedom
and adventure in my life so after graduating from high school I
enlisted in the U.S. Navy and left home. Thus began my life as a
“prodigal’. Very soon I began to follow the life style I had longed
for in my heart. I traveled far away from home without all the
restrictions and rules I had been forced to follow. For the first
time in my life I felt free to do as I pleased without any thought of
consequences. The regulations of the Navy were nothing
compared to those I had been subjected to at home.
I was not the same as the “Bible Prodigal,” in (Luke 15: 11-24). I
had friends, food, and a ship to call home. In spite of all these
“freedoms” and friends I began to feel alone and dissatisfied. I
was becoming painfully aware that all the exciting foreign places
and people couldn’t fill the void deep within me. I felt hungry for
something I couldn’t define.
My not too distant past began coming back to me. I remembered
the many times I had heard my father talk about God; how He was
always present and ready to forgive us. How His being near could
take away my loneliness and the hunger I felt. I remembered what
I had heard and read about the Holy Spirit conviction, and I began
to understand what was happening in my life. I was a “Prodigal”.
That evening in May, on the catwalk of the USS Benningtron CVA
20, I returned to the teachings of my father and found my
heavenly Father waiting to receive me; just as he had been all
along. I gave Him my heart and soon felt the call to serve Him
through the ministry. My enlistment was up in April of nineteen
sixty one. When I was discharged I returned home and went back
to school earning a BA in Psychology and a Masters in “Christian
Counseling”. I continued with my education and received a
Theology Degree from Criswell Bible College. Since 1961 I have
pastored many churches in many places but always in the service
of my Father.
I have three grown children by first wife, Artis who after forty six
years of marriage went home to be with the Lord. I am now
married to my second wife Jean who has been a blessing sent
from God. We minister together and Jean will from time to time
have a column in this ministry “Bible Prodigal.”
May God richly bless us all, you, Jean, and me. As we serve and
grow together through the Word of God and His Holy Spirit.
Pastor Teacher
Steve Shipley
ABOUT US
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