While pastor at Gallion Baptist Church in south Alabama, I received a request from a pastor friend. He needed a favor. He had booked a young lady for a concert and to make her trip she needed another church to book her for a morning service since my preacher friend had her for a Sunday night.
I had known my preacher most of our lives. His dad and a brother were also preachers. His mother used to ride to work with me and he eventually went to work with us. He was also almost my brother-in-law. He was a good friend, introduced me to Gallion Baptist Church, and was a neighboring pastor. He was also very persuasive and very effective at it. I gave in to him and booked Stephanie.
Booking Stephanie had to be one of the best decisions I made in the ministry. My pastor friend did not realize the ramifications of me having her first. She was amazing. Stephanie and Libby and Earl, her mom showed up on a beautiful Sunday morning. I met smiling angels that morning, one which drove a pink motorized wheelchair using her big toe. That was only the beginning of many wonderful and marvelous miracles with Stephanie.
She zoomed out of the van and down the church sidewalk and spun around just laughing. Earl just shook his head and Libby smiled. I finally had the opportunity to meet this precious family and begin a journey that would span twenty plus years.
Sitting in that pink wheelchair was a motionless body adorning a beautiful lively smile and a voice that sung like an angel. The first thing I heard was “Bother Bobby!” I would hear her say many times, especially after I became a Director of Missions. When Stephanie needed a place to minister, she would call me and say, “Brother Bobby I love you.” She would tell me that she was in my area and needed another church to book her.
That first time she ministered at Gallion was astonishing. She had never eaten with her mouth at that time. Libby fed her through a feeding tube. That amazed me simply because at that time the courts were involved with Terri Schiavo who at age 26, went into cardiac arrest at her home in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was resuscitated but had severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen to her brain and was left comatose. Terri Schiavo’s family argued in favor of continuing artificial nutrition and hydration via feeding tube. Terri’s feeding tube was removed in March 2005 and subsequently died.
Born April 3, 1977, Stephanie was not supposed to live. Libby, called her special angel by Stephanie, fed her, bathed her, and helped her graduate high school. Stephanie ministered again at Gallion, and it was the first time she drank water through her mouth. I was with her when she experienced the exhilaration of tasting and swallowing chocolate candy.
Back to that fist Sunday, I learned she did not have a diaphragm yet could sing like an angel. She wanted me to hug her, whom I did, and it felt I was hugging a “sack of taters.”
I do not mean that derogatory but other than her head moving she was not responsive. We always enjoyed picking and playing with another. She once asked my wife if she could kiss me on the lips. I was reluctant but my wife insisted. I kissed an angel with bright red lips and she squealed. She loved lipstick, makeup, and jewelry and had beautiful blonde hair. Every finger had a pretty ring.
Not having the ability to move her arms, her left arm fell from her wheelchair and dangled. She made eye contact with me, and I rushed to the stage to place it back on the wheelchair arm. She wisecracked, “What tender love and care.” I blushed which made her laugh.
During another song, her arm fell again this time losing a ring from her ring finger. Once again, I approached her and with tenderness lifted, her lifeless arm back on the wheelchair. I stooped down and picked up the ring. She said, “Well?” I gentle slid the ring on her finger. I remember that angelic voice saying, “I do, I do, do.” The congregation laughed and gave an ovation.
Each time she ministered for me, I had grown men with tears in their eyes say, “After hearing that girl I have no reason to miss work. She inspired me.” The only to believe her miracle was to witness God’s hand of grace and mercy on her. She did me.
The last time I was with her was a divine appointment. I was visiting my brother’s church in Baldwin County, Alabama and he said that had a special guest for the morning service. As I walked in the auditorium Stephanie yelled, Brother Bobby, I love you.”
Stephanie on January 5, 2025, just a few days ago Stephanie gained a perfect body.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares (Hebrews 13:2)
For more on Stephanie:
www.stephanieleavins.com
PS: Stephanie had a special wheelchair she used for deer hunting. She bagged a big one.
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