Published 6/5/2020
The Lord called home his servant, Rev. James P. Stephens, on Sunday, May 31, 2020; Pastor Stephens now rests after battling the coronavirus disease. We give thanks to the Lord for his ministry and rejoice knowing he has received his reward and awaits us at Jesus’ side.
Pastor Stephens was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 18, 1940. He attended a public grade school and Luther High School South, in the Chicago area. He continued his studies for the Holy Ministry by attending St. Paul College, Concordia, Missouri, the Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the Seminary in May of 1967 earning a Masters of Divinity degree. He married on June 17, 1967 his wife, Marcy, formerly of Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
He served a dual parish in Alberta, Canada (St. John’s in Trochu and Trinity in Torrington). He also served two parishes in Sarnia, Ontario, namely, Christ Divine and Redeemer. While in Alberta, he received a Masters Degree level training in Pastoral Counseling from the Pastoral Institute in Calgary, Alberta. He also received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario while serving as Assistant Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sarnia, Ontario. While in Canada, the Lord blessed him and Marcy with two daughters, Audra Lynn and Tracy Ann.
He then received a contract call to the Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois in November, 1976 to serve as a Pastoral Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist and Social Worker. He ministered there from 1977-1987.
Pastor Stephens served as vacancy pastor at Saint John, Roselle 1980-1981, Grace, Streamwood 1985-1986, and and Christ the King, Schaumburg 1986-1987. He began serving as pastor at Our Saviour, Chicago in 1987.
While in the Northern Illinois District, Pastor Stephens served on the Adult Education Committee, the Mental Health Committee, the Youth Committee for ABC District, and as an LWML Pastoral Advisor.
A memorial service is planned to be held when social distancing restrictions have eased.