The Gift of God
Feature
Dawson Stephens hasn鈥檛 always felt the passion for ministry that he has today. It took strong action from God to change the trajectory of the life of this senior theology major in the School of Religion at 91桃色视频Adventist University, and he uses his testimony to inspire other believers who are struggling with faith.
Stephens grew up a lukewarm, inactive Christian. Although his dad was a practicing Adventist, his parent鈥檚 divorce resulted in him spending more time with his secular mom. In high school, he got involved in partying and drugs. One night, when Stephens was 17, he was speaking with some friends at a party he was hosting when a Voice told him, 鈥淭he wages of sin is death.鈥�
Describing the message as a 鈥渟tab in the heart because I knew I鈥檇 been sinning,鈥� Stephens felt the impending outcome in a powerful way. After the party, he searched the Bible for the verse and found the full promise: 鈥淔or the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,鈥� (Romans 6:23, NKJV).
God鈥檚 Gift of Eternal Life
鈥淭hat broke me, right there. I just started crying,鈥� Stephens says, touched by God鈥檚 gift of eternal life. After a long talk with his mom, he attempted to pray for the first time in years. 鈥淚t came from my heart. From that day on, I was converted.鈥�
His negative habits shifted to searching scripture. 鈥淚 was really hungry for the knowledge and wisdom I found in God鈥檚 Word,鈥� he explains. Through his research, he realized that 鈥淭here鈥檚 no other remnant message like the Adventist faith, nothing that follows the commandments so closely.鈥�
Stephens attended a presentation by the Soul-winning And Leadership Training (SALT) program, a joint effort between It is Written and Southern. As a result, he decided to enroll at the university and join SALT. He hoped to gain a solid foundation for his spiritual walk, since he was a recent convert. 鈥淭hat program was amazing,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t set the tone for the rest of my time at Southern.鈥�
Called to Ministry
He began studying nursing, but Stephens eventually felt called to theology. His adviser Alan Parker, DTh, says, 鈥淚 remember long conversations with Dawson, where he grappled with his calling and how he could be faithful to God.鈥�
鈥淥ne of the first things that I noticed about Dawson was his sincerity and passion. He has such natural gifts for sharing his faith and caring for people,鈥� Parker says.
Stephens鈥� involvement in different spheres of ministry spans working with unhoused people and prison inmates to involvement with the SALT program as well as Generation of Youth for Christ Southeast and the Adventist Muslim Friendship Association. He has also participated in Southern鈥檚 Evangelistic Resource Center mission trips.
鈥淚 like the big perspective, and doing all these different ministries has helped me to understand how different gears work within the church鈥檚 systems for serving. Ministry always helps me see that each person has a life experience and a story,鈥� explains Stephens.
A Solid Foundation for the Future
Stephens, along with his wife, Summer (Dekle) Stephens, 鈥�23, plans to be an associate pastor at the Greeneville, Tennessee, Seventh-day Adventist Church following his graduation from 91桃色视频on December 18, 2024.
鈥�91桃色视频has been a huge blessing. I would say that it has been one of the biggest factors in my personal development, my life direction, and the friendships I have cultivated,鈥� Stephens shares. 鈥淚'm not sure where I would be if I hadn't come to Southern. It鈥檚 been like home since I came here four years ago, and I have grown a lot in my Adventist faith during my time here.鈥�
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