On April 27th 2011, Steve and the SWEA staff celebrated 25 years of proclaiming Christ! Even though Steve has been active in evangelism for more than forty years, it was a time to acknowledge God’s grace and favor over the Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association.
The 25th Anniversary Celebration Banquet was held at the James Madison University Festival Center and was attended by approximately 350 supporters and friends of the ministry. Dr. Elmer Towns of Liberty University was a surprise honored guest at the banquet who spoke about his enthusiasm for Steve and the ministry.
Steve’s friend, Gospel/folk artist John Schmid, traveled from Ohio to entertain the audience with his unique voice and songs as they were getting settled in their seats. Another of Steve’s friends, Pete Lulusa, treated the listeners to his rendition of the Lord’s Prayer, sung with operatic flair and feeling. Later, he sang two scriptural hymns and delivered a brief testimony of his time together with Steve in his native Romania.
Pastor Tim McAvoy deftly kept the evening moving with his excellent hosting which included stretching things out a bit as we waited for the arrival of featured vocalist Twila Paris. As the meal was enjoyed, a slide show of photos from the ministry’s events over the years played on the large screen.
Twila arrived late because of cancelled flights caused by the severe storms in the nation’s South. Twila sat at the piano and graced the audience with several of her signature compositions including, God is in Control, How Beautiful, We Bow Down, We Will Glorify, He is Exalted, Warrior is a Child, and the always stirring Lamb of God. Twila provided an unmistakably gracious presence and stylish elegance with her words and melodies.
At the close of the evening, Steve and his wife, Barb, were prayed over by a platform full of pastors and present and former board members all led by the venerable Dr. Myron Augsburger, a longtime friend and mentor of Steve’s.
Finally, Steve thanked everyone for coming, reminisced about a couple of special memories, and delievered a brief invitation for those who didn’t know Christ as their Savior to make a declaration of faith and then tell someone.
It was truly an evening which celebrated God and His graceful hand upon the ministry. The were six people who said that they rededicated their lives to Christ at the banquet and nine volunteers signed up to become invaluable Kingdom Builders helping the ministry with its various office tasks.
Steve and the staff felt strongly that God was honored during the banquet and that the ministry has been strengthened for its future years.
