"I grew up in a criminal world. My father was friends with [people who] were well connected ‒ people of ill repute ‒ and I gravitated to the lifestyle. By the time I was 17, I had shipped my first 55-gallon drum of Mexican marijuana from Arizona, and was off and running. I moved some significant weight of illegal drugs. I used to collect money for the old gamblers and drug dealers, and I almost landed in prison for a very long time. It was a long time ago."
"I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, and God's timing is always right. I knew some people who gave me a chance and managed to turn my life around. [It was a] huge spiritual death, in letting go of the criminal life."
"I started cleaning up from the inside out to get somewhat, pono. I read voraciously, spent hours in meditation, allowed the ʻuhane hemolele to slowly evacuate the wounds of the past, and heal my many insecurities and brokenness."
"I used my drug dealing skills in a positive way, networking to acquire goods for the homeless, food stuffs, clothing, etc. Just kept doing what ke Akua put in front of me. "
"Ross was the gentleman you spoke with at St . Elizabeth's Church. He was one of many very broken men and a few women who came through my door. It was quite a long time ago, so I'm not sure I remember the details, but what I recall is that he had been recently widowed, when his drug addicted wife died tragically from an overdose. He had been depressed, addicted and homeless for quite awhile, and had lost custody of his toddler son to [Child Protective Services]. Like so many who came to IHS for help, he struggled with his recovery. But somehow we connected, (therapeutic rapport) and slowly we managed to acquire one, then two days of not using. Sumner Street is a drug den. Drugs and alcohol are prevalent everywhere. We case managed him for everything from ID to Bus pass, to welfare assistance to eventually housing. We have stayed in touch, and here he is some 11 years later, clean and sober, reunited with his son, in his own place, living life on life's terms."
"I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2007. It was a death of sorts, a horrible time of great pruning in my life. Things that I once thought were important needed to fall away. I was entering the second half of life ‒ the container was too small, too centric ‒ to hold the expanding content. It is done unto you."
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"It is an incredible blessing to find a woman who Loves Jesus, and supports me in all ways, and I her." - Steve |
"But we are a resurrection people. If we die with Christ, we will be born again and live with Christ. Today I celebrate life. It is Christ in me who lives."
"I didn’t just decide. If anything, I felt like Jonah, and wanted to run in the other direction. I wasn’t going to go to Nineveh and preach repentance to them. I was happy just doing my little service projects ‒ just leave me alone. But Fr. Greg (Johnson) kept bringing it up ‒ 'You’re doing the work already, why not see what it takes.' So, Fr. Greg approached the Bishop at [a Diocesan event] in 2009, I believe, which started the ball rolling."
"Long ago, I watched some of the first crop of locally formed Deacons. Uncle Ernie Uno comes to mind/heart. He was this strong yet gentle uncle figure, who exemplified service with humility. I was told heroic stories of his service with the 100th Battalion during WWII. But now he was this guy who stepped in whenever we didn’t have a priest to lead service, very unassuming, very matter-of-fact. Much later, I met Aunty Deacon Nancy Conley, who took the time and effort to model deacon-like behaviors to me. She shared much of her life’s journey and lessons with me and made a huge impact. Archdeacon Pat Reynolds also shared her diaconal wisdom with me, and so did Deacon Honey Becker. Bishop Chang was someone who never really answered my questions. Rather he would ask the question back to me and encourage me to find my own answer."
"There is nothing I can say to encourage someone to become a deacon. It is a calling. It is not something I want to do, it is something I have to do – not out of obligation, but out of love for God and my neighbor."
Asked how has COVID-19 affected his ministry?
"Everything has changed and nothing has changed. The needs are still out there, just greater than ever. I continue to go out each day and serve wherever God needs, with a mask on, watching my physical distance, and washing my hands often."
"Everyday I start my day with prayer, every evening I end my day with prayer, and everything in between is prayer in action. It is me asking God to reveal to me the opportunities that are before me in this moment. Is this a window of opportunity for me to forgive someone and be reconciled, or to express love and gratitude, or to break an unhealthy habit and develop a new and life-giving pattern of living? God is the navigator of this journey I am on. I simply continue to move in the direction he points." |
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NAMIWalks Hawaii YourWay Virtual 2020
This is a great resource for anyone who wants to better their mental health. Information on tapping, nutrition & the gut, meditation, art and expression, living a purposeful life, self massage, and stories of hope. Do something for your mental wellness, give yourself a mini retreat and watch this. |
Community Voice: Let’s Care For Our Brothers And Sisters Behind Bars - Every soul in Hawaii Nei, no matter where they live, is important for our survival.
Click on the image to read an article written by Steve that appeared in the Honolulu Civil Beat on May 3, 2020. |
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Click above to go to the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i's main website.
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