A Dose of Fresh Courage (Haggai 2:1-9)
Pastor Steve Espling, February 14, 2010Part of the Living Right, Out of Right Priorities series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
This is the third sermon in a series entitled "Living Right, Out of Right Priorities". This series is from the short book of Haggai. It is a powerful book that will challenge us to consider our ways and fill us with fresh courage to engage in God's great work.
Pastor Steve became First EFC’s first full-time worship and youth director in December, 2006, and now he serves as our associate pastor, and shares the responsibilities of preaching and pastoral care with Pastor Dave. Steve also oversees the Deacons & Deaconesses and will be working towards leading our church to make a difference in our surrounding community, neighborhoods, and relational networks.
Steve graduated from New England Bible College in May 1997, and then on June 22, 1997, he was ordained at the First Baptist Church in South Portland through the Conservative Baptist denomination. Steve served as the sole pastor at Highpine Baptist Church in Wells for ten years between August of 1996 and July of 2006, and while in Wells, he served as a pastoral mentor with Vision New England and as the president of the York County Evangelical Minister’s Fellowship.
Steve and his wife Ellie have been married since May 1994, and they have four children: Scott, Anna, Lydia and Seth, and a dog named Simon. As a family they raise chickens and enjoy summer vacations on Madawaska Lake in Aroostook County.
Steve plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar, and also enjoys writing both praise songs and contemporary songs. He has played bass guitar for several Christian bands over the years and enjoys, running, lifting weights, and playing sports which results in his getting men and teens together in the fall for some friendly football or soccer. In the winter months he enjoys getting men together on the basketball court, and in the spring and summer can often be found coaching or umpiring games on a little league field in New Gloucester.
Steve’s passion is to live out the Gospel by getting into the lives of other men by sharing and praying for one another, and sharpening each other. He likes to see leaders developed and released to their God-given ministry.