"It was a little bit of a circuitous journey to the point of teaching. When I was a teenager, I felt a call to ministry and assumed that it must be youth ministry. So I went to college with that in mind, was involved in ministry throughout college, and it was only after I was at Seminary that I began to realize that youth ministry did not fit me well. I was fearful of killing a middle school boy, and I didn’t want to do ministry from inside a prison. So God used some people in my life to get me thinking about education and ministering in the classroom setting with college students. While I had doubts, I started the trek down that path and . . . what do you know?!"
2. What advice would you give to someone hoping to pursue a similar career in Christian ministry?
"Going the teaching route is its own unique calling. For me, it is more about the opportunity to have relationships with college students – and it happens to take place primarily in the classroom. But it is certainly more than just information sharing. And it is a long haul of preparation – lots of years of schooling. So , count the cost before you start building the barn."
3. Any funny or inspiring stories from your time as a college professor that you would like to share?
"One of the perks of the job is getting to stay connected to students long after they graduate. I am now getting Christmas cards from young families where the husband and wife met in one of my classes. Now they are married and doing ministry together. That is pretty cool. Any chance to reconnect with former students who are off doing Kingdom work makes it all worthwhile."
4. I feel that a lot of times college students want to make a difference in the world but they don't know what to do, or they just don't have the time. What are some ways that students can make a positive impact in the world, and on their campus, while at the same time juggling all the demands of college life?
"For some students, the problem is that they are too busy. They try and do too much and end up not doing anything very well. Sometimes I think our focus is incorrectly placed. We want to be part of the big moments of change, but are not content taking the small steps necessary to get where we want to be. And sometimes we fail to realize that making a difference involves small steps of daily obedience."
5. What advice would you give to someone who is questioning God's call for their life, or who perhaps feels inadequately prepared for what God is calling them to do?
"Questions are not a bad thing – they help us provide clarification. And having questions on the front end about God’s calling is probably better than having questions later on. So embrace the questions. Seek counsel from others who have made the journey into ministry. Pray a lot. Explore various ministry options. Sometimes you don’t know if a particular ministry is a good fit till you jump in and try it. In my own journey, God used the feelings of inadequacy I was experiencing to shift me away from youth ministry to another avenue of ministry. So I guess sometimes they can be part of the way that God communicates with us. But sometimes it is us – and our fears at work. For me, there have been times where my “inadequacy” was only masking the fact that I didn’t want to count the cost or I didn’t want to walk in obedience. Deciphering between the different “voices” is part of the challenge of wisdom."
6. Having been a college student yourself, and now being a college professor, what would you say is one of the biggest obstacles for students trying to maintain a growing, intimate, relationship with Christ, and what can we as students do to avoid these same obstacles?
"From my observation perch and my experience, I would say that one of the great obstacles is a lack of discipline. We find time for the things that are most important to us – sleep, fun, relationships, exercise, eating, etc. And yet we struggle to carve out a few moments with our Rescuer? It seems odd. A lot of it comes down to self-discipline and setting our priorities."
7. In contrast, what was at least one thing that you personally found to be beneficial to your spiritual growth while at college?
"Having come off a rocky senior year of high school where spiritual disciplines were pretty non-existent, I was determined that college would be different – and I was hungry for something more. So, I disciplined myself to get up every morning at 6, hit the showers, and was usually at my desk by 6:20 for Bible reading and prayer. Off to breakfast by 7 where I reviewed for class, and then off to class at 8. That schedule (which I did not maintain for all 4 years!) also necessitated discipline in the evenings where I routinely tried to be asleep by midnight. For me, it led to a time of great growth as the Lord was real to me in ways that I had not experienced before."
Transitioning into the slightly less serious side of the interview; here are some questions submitted by some other GWU students:
8. "Where are you from?" - Kayleigh W.
"Well, Kayleigh, I was born in Greer, SC. But at various points growing up I lived in Ohio, just outside of DC, Puerto Rico, and Texas. Middle school and high school and college and grad school were all in TX, but my parents and sister now live in Oklahoma. So, “from” all over, it seems. But home feels like Boiling Springs."
9. "Who is your favorite Christian historical figure and why?" - Austin N.
"Tough one, Austin. Lots of good ones out there. I have an affinity for many of the early Protestant Reformers, especially those of the Anabaptist tradition. Some of the early Baptists, people like Thomas Helwys and Roger Williams, I like because of their emphasis on freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state."
10. "Who are you reading right now?" - Jacob K.
"I’m glad you asked, Jacob. On the bedside table right now are two books. I am finishing up The Pastor by Eugene Peterson and I am re-reading a book of devotional prayers by Henri Nouwen."
11. "What is your favorite flavor of ice cream and what does it say about your personality?" - Christina M.
"Christuna, since I am not terribly creative, I find something with chocolate always a good option. However, I have a homemade ice cream recipe for Peanut Butter Ice Cream that is pretty awesome. Mix in some Butterfinger or Reesee’s and it is dang good. Maybe I am more creative than I thought."
12. Thanks Dr. Stepp for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions! Before I let you go, is there any final advice or encouraging words that you would like to leave with our readers?
"Be obedient today with what you know you are called to do. Don’t wait to be obedient until some day in the future when you “have it all figured out.” That day will never come so take small steps of obedience today – and see what God has in store for you."
photo credit: Mark Houser
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