He grew in a town of 600 in North Dakota. He spoke to me of his escape; “I bought a guitar. Acoustic. Bands were the first place I found community.” He added, that he meant the first place outside of his family. It was in a band named Tales that he met one of his greatest friends. They lived 25 miles apart, but met for rehearsals and played gigs together at barn dances, high schools, sometimes clubs. Steve played bass guitar. The guitar player for that band was Greg Wollan.
Their thirty-year friendship was significant to bringing Steve to WHC. “He asked me several times, ‘come to church’,” says Steve. Sometime later, Steve realized the calling - “That God was calling me here.” The music was different, and Greg Boyd’s teachings struck him too. He said that the sermons explain how to be a Christian, but really they’re also “How to be a human. It really helps.”
How has being involved in WHC Music/Media Ministry impacted your life? Steve says, “...more open to relationships I guess. I’m pretty quiet you know…” He says that sometimes people in the past have taken advantage of his ability to fix stuff. “That’s my thing. That’s what I do is fix busted things.” Says Steve. Those negative interactions made him more wary of people. But he says WHC has helped him overcome that. “Woodland Hills is a place to come and hear good things. Out in the world there’s bad news. Here, there’s always good things to hear and good people.” He says he hasn’t met a person at Woodland Hills that he hasn’t liked.
Steve says he’s always in low gear. “What’s the rush? I always drive 55 M.P.H. I take my time.” He is the kind of person who listens intentionally. He describes himself as a listener, not a talker. “I usually can pay attention to one person at a time,” he says. This combination of calm and concentration may be a reason that he’s so good at the audio aspect of music. Lately on the Media team he’s been working with the Audio for video and audiotapes.
This is how he describes the importance of God in his life: “How long can you go without food?” He asked me. “Maybe 30 days” I answered. “How long can you go without water?” “Maybe three days,” I said. “How long can you go without breathing?” He asked. “Not long. 30 seconds.” I answered. “How long can you go without God?” He asked. I smiled. I got his point. “He’s the spark of life.” said Steve.
