The full Foreword from 'Faithfulness'

He is the son of a British pastor and a would-be Royal Air Force pilot.  His decision at 16 to commit his life to the service of Jesus Christ led this creative student to theological training at London's finest seminary, and launched an ongoing career of Christian ministry that spans continents and decades.  She is the daughter of Lutheran parents who met at St. Olaf college.  Educated at UCLA, her career as a successful advertising executive in Southern California was enmeshed with her devotion to Jesus Christ and to a peculiar Englishman whose world travels led to their most unlikely meeting. Married in 1977, neither life would be the same.  C. John and Gretchen Steer have been changed by God. They have also changed each other and have changed many lives they have served in 30 years of ongoing Christian ministry in California, Minnesota, and across the world.

Profoundly different in many ways, the Steers nonetheless share distinctives that have made their teaching ministries unique and effective.  Fiercely independent, C. John and Gretchen are clever, well-read, well-traveled, thoughtful, sensitive, practical, warm, sharp-witted, stubborn, and determined to honor the One who died for them on a cloudy day long ago outside of Jerusalem.  Best of all, these teachers, parents, and shepherds to thousands are also gifted authors.  After three decades, each has left a superb collection of ministry writings rich in biblical inspiration, practicality, humor, and honesty.  It is this ongoing written legacy that is here celebrated in this collection.

This book samples the first three decades of written teaching by C. John and Gretchen Steer, including sermons, Bible study notes, reminiscences and written contributions to publications and newsletters. The content is as remarkably varied and rich as the intended audiences.  The reader will find practical advice, wise guidance, biblical insight, and uncommon freshness of perspective.  The collection also reveals with unusual clarity the maturation and seasoning wrought in the lives of two Christian servants surrendered to their God. The authors discuss their grief in the face of astonishing personal calamity and loss, their joys in each other, and their depth of experience in service to family and congregations.  Through it all, the reader meets two sojourners anticipating a face-to-face relationship with a timeless God.

The publication of these ministry writings seeks to accomplish three goals.  First, to honor Jesus Christ by sharing the biblically-inspired writings of two unique servants;  second, to honor the Steers for their 30 years of faithful ministry; third, to raise funds in support of the ministries of Autumn Ridge Church, Rochester Minnesota, as the congregation celebrates 150 years of service. 

It has been an honor to develop this collection.

Jim Maher
Brenda Schibilla
David Swanson

Rochester, Minnesota
November 2007