Paul Luckraft interviews Stephen, whose book ‘Time’ we reviewed recently.

In the course of reviewing books for Prophecy Today, I have often come across authors who started writing later in life after a career elsewhere. Typically, they have felt called of God to write just one book - but when I met Stephen at a Foundations Conference recently, he already had five books to his name, so I wanted to know more. How had this happened and how would it progress in the future?

Early Training

Stephen was brought up by Christian parents in East London, where he still lives, and after leaving school he started to train as a maths teacher. Although he had a heart to serve young people in this way he soon realised that this was not for him, so he switched careers and joined the Civil Service as part of what was then the DHSS (now the Department for Works and Pensions) where his main role was to handle benefit claims.

Stephen can identify four strands in his life which have brought him to the point where he is now. One of these was his new career where he developed an ability to research and communicate, and which provided him with his first writing experience as he learnt to compile casework studies and write reports. The skills needed to present a case and provide a persuasive argument remained with him and proved invaluable when he started to write books.

In his career in the Civil Service, Stephen developed his ability to research, communicate and provide a persuasive argument.

As a second strand, Stephen was very active in his local church, participating in home groups, presenting Bible studies and preaching. His desire to communicate has always been a strong point, as is his willingness to dig deeper to discover truth and insights. When putting together material either for Bible studies or preaching he is always asking, ‘Where is God now? What is he saying today?’. God doesn’t change; he is the link between the Bible text and now. This approach features strongly in all of Stephen’s books.

God’s Plan Coming Together

Meanwhile Stephen’s career was continuing along a stable path, and would do so until he retired in 2015. But other two strands emerged during the latter years which would have a significant impact on what he would do next.

Stephen began to submit material for a Christian website, The Way, mainly short and concise pieces along the lines of a ‘Thought for the Day’. This proved to be a worthwhile opening towards a more sustained writing ministry and is something he continues to do today. It is also reflected in the way he puts together the chapters of his book which, although slightly longer than the ‘Thoughts’, are compact and to the point.

God doesn’t change; he is the link between the Bible text and now.

Alongside this opportunity to contribute towards a website Stephen was influenced by a longstanding friend who had recently started writing Christian books and who encouraged Stephen to consider doing the same. This was the push he needed and at the same time he felt ‘the hint to retire’. God’s timing was coming together to move Stephen on and seek God’s purposes for the next stage of his life.

Commitment to the Word

His first book, Dialogue with a Donkey, was initially rejected by the publishers, but it wasn’t long before Zaccmedia took it up. This has since provided Stephen with the means of getting more books into print. His early books are all centred upon an Old Testament character (Balaam, Gideon, Samuel, Ruth) but more recently he has focussed on particular topics, such as ‘Time’. The inspiration for his book on Balaam (and his donkey) came when he preached a single sermon on the story and realised there was more to be said. Here was a book waiting to be written!

Although Stephen has no formal theological training, God has been training him during his various ‘jobs’, both in the world and in church – often the best training of all. His commitment to the Bible as God’s Word and his heart to connect this with the lives of Christians everywhere means he writes in a style that can readily be appreciated and absorbed.

Although Stephen has no formal theological training, God has been training him during his various ‘jobs’, both in the world and in church.

He always provides a series of questions ‘For Reflection’ at the end of each chapter which suits personal or group study. Home group leaders would find his books a useful source for a short series of studies on the character or topic under consideration.

Read our review of Stephen’s book ‘Time: Full Stop or Question Mark?’, here.