In Memory of Pastor Stephen D. Lewis

Pastor Stephen Lewis did so much to advance the cause of present truth through evangelism, revival, reformation, and by giving the straight testimony. And even though he is not with us today, Pastor Lewis has been an inspiration to many people who today seek to preach present truth without compromise. The Lewis family has given us permission to publish his obituary for the benefit of our readers.

Obituary

STEPHEN D. LEWIS was a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist Christian and served the Lord for more than 30 years as a member, colporteur, evangelist, and pastor.

Stephen was born on October 28, 1960, to Wanda Darlene Lewis and Thomas Delahaussaye in Pasadena, California, but he was raised by his father, Arnold Lewis. He received his education in the Pasadena and Altadena, California, school system attending Cleveland Elementary, Charles W. Eliot Junior High, and John Muir High. While very young, his great-grandmother, Ma Ma, lovingly prayed over him. Although he went to church, his heart just wasn’t there. Through many tumultuous years, his energy and sharp-wit often brought him into trouble. “Be a good boy,” people told him. But no one ever said, “Be a spiritual boy!” At the age of 14, on the corner of Jefferson and Drexel on Detroit, Michigan’s East Side—the side always on the local news—Stevie became a tent master for his admired uncle, Pastor George Bryant. But trouble soon sent him home and followed him there, where, at 15, trouble expelled him from his home! He now enjoyed even more time running the streets and clowning around. At 17 and 18, respectively, Stevie—as he was known to family and childhood friends—learned that he had two little miracles: Christopher and Amber. Around this time, his mother encouraged him to attend a special Youth Day service at his home church, Altadena Seventh-day Adventist Church, where young Jack Doggette was preaching. After listening, he was convicted and gave his life to Jesus Christ. His mother’s prayers had been answered.

Meanwhile, alleged crimes from his past brought him face-to-face with a judge, who gave him a choice: “Return to high school or face trial.” He enrolled in night school, successfully completed all classes, and also made a new and life-changing discovery. It was during a public speech class, where he gave 12 presentations from the Amazing Facts Bible studies, that he first believed that he could one day be a minister of the gospel after two of his classmates, Miriam and Andre Jones (and later, Andre’s entire family), gave their hearts to the Lord and were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Back in the courtroom, high school complete, again the judge gave him a choice: “Go to college or face trial.” He’d had no plans for college, but knowing the trial could end with a term in prison, he made plans to go. In 1984, again a tent master, this time for Elder George Rainey, and with only eight weeks before classes started, he met Eva Bradford Rock. He gave the quiz that night and she sought him out: “Young man, you are an evangelist! I can tell! You need to go to Oakwood College. Just get down there and don’t worry about anything else. My son is the president!” Her words strengthened Stephen. And, in 1984, after enrolling at Oakwood College (now known as Oakwood University) in Huntsville, Alabama, the judge dropped the charges.

At Oakwood, Stephen helped build up the student-led Power Hour worship services. He also served for a time as the men’s residential dean—a position he thoroughly enjoyed. He poured into the young men and sought to instill in them a love for God and an understanding of who they were. It was under the likes of E. E. Cleveland, E. E. Rogers, and C. E. Moseley Jr., to name a few, that he understood the purpose and work given to God’s remnant, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Indeed, it was a sermon given by Elder Moseley on music, warning of Satan’s coming counterfeit revival just before the close of probation, that helped Stephen discern the ungodly spirit behind the false worship and praise now so common. To him, it only made sense to warn the flock, bidding them stay on the right path. Stephen trained under the best when he became one of Elder E. C. Ward’s student associate pastors at Oakwood College Church. In 1990, he earned a bachelor’s degree in religion and a minor in Urban Development studies.

After graduating, Pastor Lewis entered the ministry after accepting employment with the Allegheny West Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, pastoring churches in South Boston and Danville, Virginia, from 1990 to 1994. While pastoring for Allegheny West, he also served as their Conference Evangelist from 1992 to 1995. The Lord blessed his passion for service and, in 1992, he received four awards: Pastor of the Year; Soul Winner of the Year; Tithe Increase of the Year; and Special Recognition for Youth Evangelism. In 1993 he received Soul Winner of the Year Award; and the Centurion Award in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, he received the Highest Baptisms for Ebony Evangelism Award. And on March 18, 1995, at Glenville Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, Pastor Lewis became an ordained minister. That same year, he accepted an invitation from the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, becoming their union evangelist, a position he held from 1995 to 1998. Then, in 1998, he accepted a call from the Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to serve as Conference Evangelist, a position he held for three years until 2001. He then pastored in that Conference from 2001 to 2005 and was awarded in 2002 with Tithe Increase of the Year Award and 2002 Soul Winner of the Year Award.

Since 1991, Pastor Lewis held evangelistic crusades, and it was the suggestion of his youth Bible workers that they called them The Present Truth. Remembering his own childhood, he sought to utilize and build up “an army of youth, rightly trained”, allowing them to experience, first hand, the power of community service and earnest prayer. These Present Truth crusades were organized so that anyone seeking for truth could meet Jesus in an environment that was exhilarating yet reverent and alive with the unity, faith and conviction of God’s presence. Pastor Lewis traveled extensively throughout the United States, fulfilling God’s call to evangelism in crusades and revivals not only at home but abroad. He served in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Canada, West and South Africa, Malaysia, Fiji, Australia, Bermuda, Trinidad, Jamaica, and other countries. In 1999, the Lord blessed him to preach his largest televised crusade, Pentecost 2000, which was aired on 3 Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN). It was in this series that he spoke of the World Trade Center’s collapse before it happened. Thousands attended these events and, by faith, accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Pastor Lewis was the featured speaker of the television and radio program, The Present Truth, which was nationally broadcast and a favorite on several stations, including The Word Network and Impact Network. The stations reached into millions of homes and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and though studying God’s word, and the preached word, lives will continue to live in His strength!

From 2005 to 2013, Pastor Lewis worked with various national and international church groups, bringing this gospel to their conventions and sowing seeds for the Master. Then, from 2013 to 2016, he kept preaching for various Adventist church’s crusades and revivals.

In 2016, Pastor Lewis married his long-time friend and companion in ministry, Kshama. It was their great joy to grow together in love and service. And it was her greatest joy and honor to stand by his side as his helpmate, encouraging him and building him up so that he could best fulfill the call of God in his life. Truly, they both wanted to love their Lord and Saviour, who had graciously stood by them for so long, and to be found faithful, living by the power of His Holy Spirit, one day hearing Him say, “Well done!”

In 2017, Pastor Lewis accepted another call to the Allegheny West Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, where he pastored: Dayton’s Church (formally Hillcrest) in Dayton, Ohio, from 2017 to 2022; Blessed Hope in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 2020 to 2022; and Glenville Present Truth in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2022 to 2023—a church the Lord used his ministry to start after a successful Present Truth tent crusade in 1993, held on the corner of 55th, Woodland and Kinsman. After praying for almost 30 years that he would return, Pastor Lewis made it back in time for Sister Lucy Proctor to see her prayers answered before he had the honor of eulogizing her, a faithful Mother of the church who had fallen asleep in Christ.

In September 2022, he produced his first published book, Pray Without Ceasing, A Men’s Prayer Journal. On Sabbath, June 24, 2023, in Dayton, Ohio, 38 weeks after his cancer diagnoses, weeks of uncomplaining, wholehearted service to his Lord; taking comfort in the unconditional love of his wife, best friend, and companion in ministry; and staying true to his one desire—to hear his Father say, “Well done,” Pastor Lewis went to sleep in Christ.

“This world is not going to get better. Will you allow the Potter to do His work on you? If you stay in His hands, I promise, that in the end, you will say that “We have waited,” not, “It was hard.” You will say that “We have waited for You,” not “It was painful.” You will say, “We have waited for You,” not “It was tough!” Stare longer at the blessing and stop looking at the trial! Behold the Christ, the Lamb of God! Behold Him so you’ll know Him so well that you won’t say, “Who shall be able to stand?” You will stand when He comes! Because He’s coming soon.” — Stephen D. Lewis

For Bible Studies, sermons and other resources by Stephen D. Lewis, contact: The Present Truth, (661) 274-2390