Evangelist

Stephen Lord

People sometimes ask Diane why she married a preacher. Her standard response is, “I didn’t; I married a janitor.” Don’t be hasty and think she’s commenting on Stephen’s preaching skills. Nor is she hinting at what preachers actually do at the church building outside of Sundays. A little over 25 years ago, when Diane and Stephen married, Stephen was working as a custodian for a public school district in California. Stephen’s night job helped pay for college. He wanted to be a high school teacher in everyone’s favorite subject—history. Stephen eventually did complete a Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Northridge.

A funny thing happened on the way to that degree, however. Stephen and Diane had moved out to the Antelope Valley in southern California, where he was working as a groundskeeper for the local high school district. The minister at the church they attended moved to Indiana. The members of the congregation approached Stephen and asked if he would fill in until they found another minister. After a couple of weeks of soul searching, Stephen agreed to serve in that capacity temporarily. Six months later the congregation asked if Stephen would accept the position permanently and so began the Lord family’s twenty-one year (so far) journey into the fulltime preaching ministry. (Of course, with a last name like ‘Lord,’ what else could he do? Yes, we’ve heard all the ‘Lord’ jokes.)

There is nothing “exciting” or intriguing about Stephen and Diane. They are just plain, down to earth people who like the simple things in life—being with family, enjoying God’s creation, and working with God’s family through the joys and trials of life.