Stephen Smallman: The Walk: Steps for New and Renewed Followers of Jesus

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MP3 Available Here

Stephen Smallman, founder of Birthline Ministries and instructor and curriculum developer for the leadership training program of CityNet , will address the theme of his latest book, "The Walk: Steps for New and Renewed Followers of Jesus".

The Walk is a book written to those who have expressed a desire to follow Christ as his disciple. It assumes no prior understanding of what that means, nor does it assume that the person has actually come to a point of professing faith. It uses as a starting point someone who is simply wondering, “what next?”. Stephen also addresses those who have grown up “Christian” and may be wondering how to step out in their own faith.

"In this book, Steve Smallman has drawn on a lifetime of pastoral ministry to provide the church with a gem of a book which, while aimed specifically at the unbeliever and the new Christian, will yet benefit even those older in the faith who take time to read it and be reminded of, and refreshed by, the great, simple truths of the life-changing gospel." -- Carl R. Trueman, Westminster Theological Seminary
Rev. Stephen Smallman has worked in pastoral ministry since 1966. He grew up in a non-religious (nominally Protestant) family and came to trust in Christ as a teenager through the ministry of an independent Bible Church. He attended Bob Jones University, graduating with a B.A. (1962) and M.A. (1964). At Bob Jones he met and married his wife, Sandy. In 1965 he joined a Presbyterian church that is now part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He attended Covenant Theological Seminary, graduating with an M.Div. in 1967. While at Covenant, Steve began his pastoral ministry, a ministry that has placed him in several different settings:

He was a student pastor in a rural setting in Illinois while he completed seminary.

He served as Pastor of McLean Presbyterian Church, in a suburb of Washington DC, from 1967-1996. During his 30 years there the congregation grew from 60 to 1200 members and helped to start 6 other congregations. The church was heavily involved in urban and foreign missions and at the end of his time was contributing $500,000 annually to benevolences.

One of the highlights of his time in McLean was the opportunity to serve with Prison Fellowship in the early years of that ministry. That marked the beginning of his using the birthline as a tool to explain the new birth.

He was Executive Director of World Harvest Mission in Jenkintown, PA from 1997-2001. This is a mission that emphasizes spiritual renewal as well as international gospel outreach.

He returned to the pastorate and served in an urban setting as Pastor of New Life Northeast in Philadelphia from 2001-2005.

He currently serves with CityNet Ministries of Philadelphia, a dynamic ministry of church planting, pastoral training and mercy ministry. His particular role with CityNet is instructor and curriculum developer with for their leadership training program.

He is a visiting adjunct faculty member for Covenant and Westminster seminaries and is a Senior Consultant for Churches Vitalized.

Steve and Sandy have raised four children, all now married, who have given them ten grandchildren. They live in Dresher, a suburb of Philadelphia. Sandy has extensive experience as a women’s Bible teacher and retreat speaker. She is also a mentor to pastor’s wives and younger women.

Other books by Steve include "How Our Children Come to Faith", "Forty Days on the Mountain", "Spiritual Birthline", "What is True Conversion?", "Understanding the Faith" and "What is a Reformed Church?" (see this link).

Steve welcomes your comments and suggestions. Contact him at steve@birthlineministries.com. Both Sandy (sandy@birthlineministries.com) and Steve are open to speak for conferences, retreats, etc. on a limited basis.