Stephen: “My First Volunteer”
The best team mates are the ones who join because they want to. In the ministry, there is no such thing as a “draft” – God only has volunteers. The Lord has no “hired servants.” His servants serve Him because they love Him!
Stephen Troell was living and laboring in Ammon, Jordan by the time I went into evangelism. He was one of the first to reach out to me after I made public my decision. I had been Stephen’s RA and we had been students together in the early days at Crown. For several years we served together on the staff, and I was actually in Jordan teaching for a few days when he made his first trip to the Middle East. A visit that would touch his heart and shape his future ministry.
Stephen used his gifts and talents for the Lord, and he very emphatically told me that he was going to help me. I could never have afforded to pay him for the work he did, but that wasn’t what he wanted. He just wanted everyone to know Jesus. Though we were separated by an 8 hour time difference we talked almost every day (or night!). Stephen was instrumental in designing our gospel tracts, the first web site, the first book on Revival Praying, and every other project in those early days. His passion was the gospel and only eternity will reveal all that God used him to set in motion in his brief life. “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
You can read more about Stephen’s role in the early days of ETJ below, and listen to a brief interview about his life verse at the bottom of this page:
Stephen’s precious family is a constant encouragement to all of us. Jocelyn and the children are pursuing the work God has for them to do at this time and we are praying for them. They are our dear friends and their faithfulness continues to minister to so many. We have witnessed the grace of God in them.
I spoke with Stephen a few minutes before he went to be with the Lord. We talked of God’s blessing and a number of gospel projects in which we were engaged. His last words to me before we said I love you and goodbye were these: “Scott, we just have to do more!”
Neither of us knew that shortly my brother would be with Christ. His work was done and his race run. Stephen cannot do more…but we can, and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we will.
I never want to lose the spirit of volunteerism that God gave us in those early days. We must never get so busy or organized that we lose Jesus’ passion and our sensitivity to the Lord’s promptings. “Lord, keep me willing!”
A slave works because He has to. An employee works because he needs to. A son works because he wants to. If you are a child of God, you should want to find your place in what He is doing in this world.
May God continue to raise up an army of volunteers and pioneers for the gospel. All of us can do our part in His great program.
(Read more about Stephen’s Studio and the lasting legacy of his influence at ETJ HERE.)
