March 7, 2025 • 39 mins
"Do you know any Christian connectors? On today’s episode, we continue sharing incredible stories from Step of Faith Ministry, a ministry that has connected many believers through their work at home and around the world."
In this compelling episode, we explore the incredible journeys that have shaped Step of Faith Ministry, spurred on by faith, unity, and meaningful relationships. Through powerful stories of transcending cultural and geographical boundaries, the hosts reveal how they transformed personal connections into impactful outreach efforts across nations.
Listeners will gain insight into the profound experiences that ignite ministry work, understand the importance of collaboration among churches, and be inspired by the hope that emerges when different groups come together with one purpose — to bring Christ's love to communities in need. This episode not only underscores the importance of community but depicts the spiritual journeys that propel faith into action, reaching places where it’s needed the most.
Engage with the hosts as they discuss the evolving nature of their ministry and their aspirations for the future. This episode encourages listeners to find their own part in the larger narrative of connection and service. Join us, delve into the rich tapestry of faith-filled stories, and embrace how you can also become part of a movement that reflects Christ’s love in tangible ways. Let us help spread hope, and if you find value in this episode, don’t forget to share it with others, subscribe for more inspiration, and leave a review!
PlayMakers:
Patrick Hess, Vice President
Pam Hess, Mission's Coordinator
email: pamhess67@gmail.com
Step Of Faith Ministry
https://stepoffaithministry.org/
Listen to Part 1 of this interview here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110391/episodes/16700162
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lord you know.
Hey guys, you are now listeningto Plays on Word Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
It's the best.
Joseph came up to me one nightand he said what church are you
all from?
And I said, joseph, we are fromnine churches, but what you're
seeing is the power of the HolySpirit bringing us together in
unity, and I'll never forgetthat, because that was such a
testimony of what God can do ifwe're fully surrendered and
willing to work for His gloryand not our own, and do what
(00:29):
he's calling us to do and not betossed back and forth with
these secondary issues.
That has nothing to do withsalvation.
Your name, your name.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Your name.
Hello and welcome to Plays onWord Radio, where we discuss,
analyze, work and play on theWord of God.
(01:08):
Thank you for joining us onthis excursion.
Today, let's join Pastor Teddy,also known as Fred David Kenny
Jr, the founder of Plays on WordTheater, as he does a deep dive
into the Word of God.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Now, how does Step of Faith, how does Step of Faith,
how does Step of Faith, how doesStep of Faith move from Haiti
all the way across the ocean andnext to Italy, this little tiny
country, the size is a littlebit bigger than New Jersey, I
guess.
It's similar to Israel, I guess, as far as size.
How did you end up there?
(01:46):
Because we ended up there,because you ended up there.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well, again, it was through relationships.
It seems like that is a commonthread and step of faith, that
our ministries all come out ofpersonal relationships, and I
think we mentioned early in thepodcast that Mike Durante grew
up with Sue Hager, theco-founder of Step of Faith, and
Mike had been in Albania formany years.
(02:14):
His wife passed and he cameback to the States and started
an Albanian church in northernJersey and Sue and Mike just so
happened to run into each otherlocally, just happened to, just
happened to, and started to talkand he was asking about what
she was doing and she, in turn,about what he was doing and um I
(02:37):
think it was that same year hehad um approached.
Sue and listen, we have twoyoung men over in Albania, just
converted from Muslim toChristian and they would like to
go to seminary.
Would Step of Faith be able tohelp them go to seminary?
And it was like, around theboard table, everyone was like
(02:59):
yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
And that was Melcy and Gno andwe were able to help them
complete their seminary.
And then that was the catalyst.
So that was the piece thatstarted what has transpired
since 2014.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Wow 2014.
Wow, yes, and Gayno, I talkedabout doing a podcast with Gano
at some point.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
He's the sultan of Savion.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Church.
Hey, if you guys listen, if youcould see him.
He looks like he should be asultan or something.
You know what I'm talking about.
He does.
He definitely looks like amovie star.
He's got this rigid look, yes,it's a very unique look.
We love that guy, we love allof them over there.
You guys went over and I thinkyou went with John D.
(03:53):
John Durante went over thefirst time, right when you first
went over.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yep 2018.
Again, it was Mike.
Mike was very encouraging.
He kept talking to Sue andsaying you need to go to Albania
now You've been supporting forfour years.
You need to go see my beautifulcountry.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
That sounds like Mike .
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, granted, now he's Italian, but it's still his
beautiful country.
He's Italian, albanian.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
And I understand how you embrace that when you go and
, um, I understand how youembrace that when you go.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
so I get it.
So, um, so yeah, so sue andpatrick and I were talking and
because mike and john had atthat time around, that time had
just been reunited, so they hadbeen doing separate ministries
for years and hadn't reallyknown what was going on with
either of their lives, so nowyou have these two cousins
coming back together.
(04:47):
So then it was like, john, comeon over also, you need to see
what's happening here.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And that was our first trip in 2018, before we
started to bring teams over Stepof faith, connecting again,
connecting other people andother ministries, and there are
people who came from JerseyShore over there to albania
because of that and because ofthat connection again, yeah, I
remember when you guys came backI think you had pictures or
something we came.
(05:13):
You either came over our house,we came over your house and
played a uh pictures and likeslideshow and I just remember
going, wow, man, whoa, and buteven that didn't do it, wasn't?
It didn't do justice to.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Once I finally got there and I was like oh, this is
what they oh, I get it I get itI might be getting it jumbled a
little bit, but I I know on oneof the trips where plateau came
here to visit, yeah, you hadkind of a meet and greet at your
home.
We got a chance to meet him andwe were talking to him and, you
know, at some point during theconversation I hear Ted say yeah
(05:49):
, I'll come do a play in Albania.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I'll never forget Albania.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I'll never forget Flat door space, flat door space
.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
It was funny too, because we were talking and he
said something.
I said I forget exactly whathappened.
I said, yeah, I'll come overand do a play man.
I'm thinking in my mind how farcan it be?
Albania, california.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
New Jersey Florida.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
How far can it be?
But he had this look on hisface like really, because I can
make that happen.
I know a guy that's an insidejoke for those of you who have
not been to Albania but Platourknows a guy for everything.
Like Platour, my tooth is isfalling out.
I know a guy.
You know my tire, my tire justfell off my truck.
(06:36):
Hang on, ted.
I know a guy and it's like youknow, five minutes later
somebody pulls up and they'recompetent, they're completely
competent on fixing.
Like I saw, um, we, I went to, Iwent to this in, uh, malich,
malich, that's it.
Yeah, yeah, malich, right, soI'm, I'm in a cafe in malich and
, uh, the, the espresso machinegoes down.
(06:59):
Right, the espresso machinegoes down and over there, it's a
big.
You know, you got 25 dudessitting out front like man,
what's going on?
They have to look on the facelike come on, where's the
espresso?
And this guy gets on the phoneand he calls I don't, I don't
know.
It definitely wasn't like arepair, normal repair guy, it
wasn't the Mr Goodwrench.
But this dude pulls up in a car, gets out with his toolbox and
(07:23):
opens up the whole espressomachine and goes to town on it,
fixes it and then leaves.
And I was like I can't, butthat was the guy.
That was the guy.
That was the guy that Plateauwould have called.
It blew my mind.
I mean guy pulled up nomarkings on his truck, no, you
know, wasn't a special tech.
So if anything goes wrong, they, you know, they call a guy and
they're competent.
(07:44):
The machine was working greatafter that.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I mean I want to get into how Pam has become a board
member and just her heart abouthow she got involved with Plays
on Word and her thoughts on theministry.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Step of Faith was instrumental because they had
the connecting get-togetherwhere we were able to meet with
plateau and and and mike.
And just let it be knownoriginally, when we first met
mike, I thought I said thisguy's, he's kind of a curmudgeon
.
I don't know, I think he's,he's a little he's a little he's
a little curmudgeonly like.
But you know what, like, like,like a beneficial fungus, he
grew on us.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Especially when you're driving in Albania with
him.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I'm not sending him the link to this podcast?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
No, but I was like I don't know what to make of this
guy.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I don't know what to make of this guy.
Now, I love this guy.
He's like, yes, he's family.
Well, you know what it'sinteresting.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Just like when Katie was kind of saying um what she
just said.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I think back as far as plays on word that started in
your living room when you weregoing through was it esther or
ruth ruth.
We were, yeah, because you know,single for 43 years.
So in ted and katie's livingroom and Ted would go through,
he did the.
He oversaw the singles Biblestudy which brought in people
from all different churches, metin their house.
And because Ted is Ted, he, ashe was going through a book of
(09:16):
the Bible, he would just kind ofstart standing up and acting
out little pieces of it and atsome point during that time I
remember saying I don't know ifit was me or who it was but like
Ted, you should like do a, likeyou should turn this into a
play, like you can do a one manplay.
It was just this blanket kindof thought and it wasn't for
years later, but we saw it backthen.
(09:37):
God had already brought thatout.
You know your, your gifts andtalents, yeah no, no, no.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Well, we got married in 2007 or 8.
When I did the book of Ruthbecause your dad passed away,
and when he was dying in thehospital, I basically busted out
my Bible and did the same thingthat we had done at the study
at the house.
But, pam, I forgot you were,that's right.
You were there.
You were there when we firstdid that book of Ruth.
I remember going up the clifflike, hey, cliff man, this was
(10:05):
amazing People.
They were really getting it,because when I finished, when I
closed the book, everybody inthe house was like their jaw was
on the floor.
They were like what the heckdid?
I just see.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Well, you made it again.
You made the Bible come to life, you made the book of Ruth come
to life, and I remember you'reat your piano and you were like
doing little songs and I mean itwas it started there, that was,
that was plays on word withouta title.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
That's a.
That's a.
That's a good point.
Oh, Katie's got a picture, Ithink.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
September 4th 2009.
Okay.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Ah, yes, oh my gosh, what are you doing?
Oh, my goodness, there you are,that's it oh man, that is
hysterical.
That's when it all began, wow.
And then obviously it was moreof the practicality of it.
I remember Katie you know causeKatie and I used to have coffee
(11:02):
together and be able to spendtime together when you guys
lived up here in brick, and andI remember Katie starting to say
you know, there's this, thiswe've been praying, there's
these thoughts, and how on earthdo we become a nonprofit?
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Right yeah, pam was my nonprofit guru.
Oh yeah, she basically wrotethe book first and then I just
came and gleaned from her.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
There are people that charge a massive amount of
money to be a coach fornonprofit people, to coach them
and to help guide them.
And here we had Pam, whobasically went ahead and blazed
a trail on what not to do, whatto do.
And so when it came time forthe nonprofit aspect of, you
know, being a legit ministry,because people started giving us
(11:46):
money and giving us checks andI was like we need to.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
I remember at one point I was freelancing in
between jobs and we were praying, you know, for a job for me and
I remember Teddy saying youknow, and we were praying for a
job for me and I remember Teddysaying you know I've been
praying for your job and I feellike the Lord told me plays on
word is the job.
And so then I said, well, thenwe need help.
Yeah, we alluded to you.
(12:14):
Guys know that we did it for awhile, and then when we
officially became a nonprofit,it was almost like our coming
out party.
However you would put it was ata function for Step of.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Faith we legitimately become a nonprofit.
Like, yeah, we officially were,legally, we got our papers back
and we were a nonprofit andthat launch, that happened at
the Step of.
Faith another Step of Faithevent League.
We got our papers back and wewere a non-profit.
That launch.
That happened at the Step ofFaith another Step of Faith
event.
It was a connection event whereall these different ministries
were there.
(12:49):
A ton of ministries were there.
Do you want to talk about thatat all?
That first dinner we did at theLobster Shanty?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Yeah, the Lobster Shanty, howster Shanty.
Yeah, the Lobster Shanty.
How did that come about?
That was again.
That was like a roundtablediscussion because of the like
Patrick had said earlier, bobHager's vision was the hub of a
wagon wheel with all thesespokes going out, and actually
he looked at it that way becauseback when he was first starting
Step of Faith, churchdenominations would not work
(13:21):
together.
It seemed like everyone stayedin their denomination and he
felt like Step of Faith could bethat connection, because we're
not a church, we're not adenomination.
We're actually made up rightnow of like four or five
different churches on our boardand so because of that, we were
able to really connect and arestill connected with over 10
local churches from alldifferent denominations, and
(13:45):
that just continued to connectpeople.
And we found that between, likewhat you guys were starting to
do and Craig and Linan Bogartwith Aslan up in the more North
Jersey and all that they'redoing in Haiti and locally and
we had Mike Durante there aswell, I'm trying to remember
(14:09):
around the room- I don't thinkKaren Peete was there, yet Was
she still on the board?
I can't remember.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Karen.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Oh yeah, Karen was there Was that the first one
with Rooted in Love.
I don't know if it was thefirst one, maybe First or second
one, but the premise was let'sget everyone in the same room
and let's give an overview ofwhat all these ministries are
doing.
And I remember people coming upto me throughout that night
because we had a dinner thattime and shaking their heads and
(14:36):
saying I've never been to anonprofit's dinner where you're
promoting other ministries toget support.
And we said, well, that's justbeen where we want to see other
people who have like-mindedness,who are getting the gospel out
in their ways, with their giftsand talents to be known gifts
(14:57):
and talents to be known.
You know we're not, we're thistiny.
You know, we always say we're alittle mom and pop organization
and God provides the funds andhow he provides the funds for us
.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
We can provide the funds out, but we wanted to see
other like-minded organizationsbe able to be heard and that we
had and share how God's usingthem in their ministry, and that
we had, sure, yeah, using themand their ministry, and yeah, so
it was.
It was a cool way to like bringall of everybody's supporters
together and see what they'resupporting, who they're praying
(15:28):
for, and everybody to share yeah, exactly, and share their
ministries.
So, yeah, it worked.
I got something that's, let metell you, I've been able to do
for years.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Go ahead sorry, funny thing about the funny thing
about that I was sitting at atthe table with Katie and we're
sitting at our table and there'sthis guy sitting next to us and
I'm like where, how do I knowthis guy?
What, what is this guy?
How do I know this guy?
And it was an older gentlemanand it turned out every every
other Sunday or whatever, wewould go to this place called
(15:57):
Benny's now called Sunnyside,right, but we used to go to this
place called Benny's and thiswhole church would come in after
we'd get there and at a certaintime, 12 something, this whole
group of I don't know eight,nine, 10 people would come in
and the ladies would sittogether and the guys would sit
together and I would always sayhi to them.
(16:18):
And I remember saying hi and Ididn't know that the guy that
was next to me was a pastor atthe table at your event.
But finally I think it kicked in.
He said, oh yeah, my name's TomBrown, I'm a pastor of the
Osborneville Church right theredown the street from Benny's,
(16:39):
and I'm like, oh, my goodness,we see this guy every Sunday and
you're here.
And even that made a connectionfor us to where he was able to
see because we did a part of ourPete play, I think.
And he said would you guys comeout to our church?
And I said, yeah, we did a playout at their church.
They were all blessed and itwas just the connectivity of
Step of Faith is.
I cannot emphasize it enoughand I just I can't do justice on
(17:10):
all the connections that youguys have been the center hub
for, but the amount of ministrythat has gone forth.
Just another quick example fromTom's church Pastor Brown and
his wife Sylvia, keep them inyour prayers.
But yeah, we were at his churchand there was a guy up front and
he just straight faced me thewhole time of the play.
He had his arms crossed andstraight faced, no response,
(17:32):
nothing at all.
So I'm doing the play thinking,oh boy, this is not going over
well with this guy.
Oh man, maybe you know what.
I am a little loud and thesefolks are a lot older and I'm
expecting him and his wife tocome up to me and be like you
know it's too loud, you're tooloud, you're too loud.
So after the play he gets upand walks right up to me,
(17:52):
straight face, no expression,and he says that was the best
stage play I've ever seen in mylife.
With a straight face, with astraight face and walks away,
and then he actually cracked asmile and they were all blessed.
But yeah, you cannot judge abook by its cover.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
I was expecting to be given a hard time and he
absolutely loved it and theywere such a blessing you know,
talking about um, the connectionthat you have and and the
non-denominational aspect of it,that's, I mean, that's such a
great model and and was alwaysan inspiration, and um, and
we've picked up on part of thattoo.
(18:32):
I think that's why we can go to.
We've been to so many numerousdenominations and we're focusing
on straight scripture and we'refocusing on Christ, and when
you do that, then you can be infellowship with a lot more
people.
That's where thelike-mindedness comes, the
people that are, you know,believers in Christ and you know
(18:55):
the other secondary things youdon't have to debate about, but
I think that's important.
Or you don't have to divideover.
You can debate things you don'thave to debate about, but I
think that's important.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
You don't have to divide over.
You can divide over, you candebate, but you don't have to
divide.
And the enemy would have usdivide over secondary issues and
issues that are not importantto salvation or even fellowship.
The color of their carpet isred, the color of their carpet
is blue.
They cannot have fellowshiptogether.
That type of stuff.
It's ridiculous.
And the Lord is like hey, wewant some unity.
(19:22):
So you guys have helped tobring the unity which is Christ.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I can just give a real quick testimony on that.
When we were in Haiti one year Ibelieve Patrick was there as
well we had a pretty large teamand we do take like nine months
to prepare a team and geteverybody as prepared as
possible before going down.
And I remember we were all downthere and we're doing all the
different things that that weekor 10 days had to offer.
(19:49):
And Joseph came up to me onenight and he said what church
singular are you from?
Are you all from?
And I said, joseph, churchsingular are you from?
Are you all from?
And I said, joseph, at thatthat team had we had we're from
nine churches.
I said, joseph, we are from ninechurches, but what you're
seeing is the power of the holyspirit bringing us together in
(20:09):
unity, and I'll never forgetthat, because that was such a
testimony of what god can do ifwe're fully surrendered and
willing to work for His gloryand not our own, and do what
he's calling us to do and, likeyou said, not be tossed back and
forth with these secondaryissues.
That has nothing to do withsalvation, where these people
(20:31):
need salvation first andforemost.
So yeah, just wanted to throwthat in there when you said
unity.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, yeah, oh, hey, I'm going to take you guys back.
You probably only certainpeople will understand this, but
we connect like Voltron.
You know that's the idea,connecting like Voltron.
And you know Voltron is made upof well, it depends.
There's one made of a bunch ofdifferent cars, but the other
one is made up of cats five cats, and it's a Japanese animation
(21:01):
thing where they connecttogether to become this one big
robot and in the body of Christ.
you know, I just noticed that wecan get a lot more done when we
connect, like Voltron, you know, and we connect and we put
certain things that are going todivide us.
You know, there are certainthings that are essential, but
you know, but for the most part,many of us, we divide along
lines that are non-essentialsand then that diminishes the
(21:24):
amount of effectiveness we havefor the body of Christ.
So, speaking of effectiveness,there's a lot of people
listening.
Katie, you had something to say.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Well, I was going to say there's a lot of people
listening right now and theywant to learn more, and maybe
the Lord has moved them to helpout or to be involved somehow.
And so how can people supportyou guys and support the work
you're doing?
Find out what's happening.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Well, to connect with us, they can go to our blog
site, stepoffaithministryorg toour blog site,
stepoffaithministryorg.
They can shoot an email topamhess67 at gmailcom.
Let me know what they'reinterested in.
(22:11):
We have stopped going down toHaiti right now because of the
(22:37):
turmoil down there, but we domission trips still.
We can all continue to bringglory to God through what he's
giving us to do.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Amen, we'll make sure we put those links in the show
notes.
Just Atlantic City, now on thesurface, I'm thinking Atlantic
City.
What does Atlantic City need?
That means what?
Are they going down to play theslots?
What's so big about AtlanticCity?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Well again, another connection.
Years ago, over 12 years ago,our board member Bobby McDonough
had grown up, or he and hiswife were very good friends with
another couple, santo and MaryEllen Garofalo.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Flexible and pioneering Katie.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Remember that, Katie.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
That's inside.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
Katie's twitching right now.
I cannot see what's happeningright now.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
My twitch has come back, but Katie's twitching.
And yet Santo coined.
You have to have a flexible andpioneering spirit.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Oh, he's the one who coined it.
Oh, I get it.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Yeah, santo did yeah, so you can thank him for that
one we need to talk to that guy.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
Yeah you got some contact information.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
You guys need to talk to him in person.
Next trip with us to Albania.
We're going to go over thereand I would love to get you guys
all together.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
They get you hooked up with them in Italy, but at
the time they were a churchplant in Atlantic City called
through a denomination calledNew City Fellowship, and so
Bobby, at a board meeting,brought them up and said listen,
they're doing ministry workdown there in neighborhoods that
nobody wants to go into, blocksfrom the boardwalk and let's
(24:11):
check it out.
So I had gone down and just dida day with them and met them
and realized, wow, this is avery needed ministry, like you
said.
I mean people think AtlanticCity, they think gambling, they
think money, they think hotels.
50 minutes down the parkwayfrom where we live, you have
children that are afraid tosleep in their own beds because
(24:32):
bullets come flying throughtheir windows.
You have a huge problem withdrugs, single parent homes,
prostitution, you name it.
It's a one square mile, it'snot a big area, atlantic City
and it has just a lot of peoplewho came in to work the casinos
(24:52):
and when some of the casinoshave shut down, you now have
3000 people that have no workand they don't have enough money
to get out of Atlantic City, sothey get put into these
complexes called Carver Hall.
We call it Back Maryland Busby,different, you know, apartment
complexes, lower income andthat's where New City pours into
(25:13):
.
And so for the last 12 yearswe're going again this summer.
We just had our first missionteam meeting last weekend.
We'll be taking another teamdown this summer.
We spend a week with them.
We bring up a Bible club forthree nights at.
Carver Hall is our destinationof choice now to go to, and
during the day they tell us whatother needs there are in the
(25:33):
community.
It could be any type of workprojects.
It could be helping a shut-inelderly woman get groceries.
Every year is different andthey plan the days.
They disciple us to help usunderstand how to connect the
community to the church.
They do teachings on racialreconciliation and all gospel
focused teachings and worship,and so, yeah, that's how we got
(25:58):
connected and it's actually fromthe Atlantic City trip back in
2012.
One of our teammates said whycan't we do this closer to home?
And I said, well, where wouldthat be?
And she said the Maple LeafApartments.
And at the time I didn't knowwhat the Maple Leaf Apartments
were, but they turn out to belower income housing projects
right here in Brick and that's awhole nother testimony.
(26:19):
But the bottom line is we havebeen there now for 12 years
doing an after school tutoringprogram.
So their ministry in AtlanticCity birthed this tutoring
program here in Brick that manychurches have been involved with
now for the last 12 years.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
So yeah, exciting stuff Plays on Word was even
there, that's right you guyscame, and that's right.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
You did one of your plays there.
Christmas Joe play there.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
That was a blessing.
So you guys are likefirefighters.
You go in when everybody elseis running out of a building
that's on fire.
Missionaries and Step of Faithin particular, is the type
that's like going in to thebuilding that's on fire or the
place that everybody wants toget out of.
You guys find a way to go inthere and minister the gospel,
and it's amazing that the gospelgoes forward.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
You know we just talked a lot of history today
and you know, pam, you werethere from day one when this was
thoughts on a piece of paper towhere we are now, and so I just
want to ask you where yourheart is, why I mean as a board
member, as a supporter throughStep of Faith, why do you
support Plays on Word?
(27:26):
And then the next question, myfinal question, will be what's
next for Step of Faith?
What do you want us to knowabout what's happening in the
future?
Speaker 3 (27:33):
The first question is very easy.
Having known you guys as longas I have, first and foremost,
your heart to be an instrumentin God's hands has always been
first and foremost you guys are.
What you see is what you get,and I love that about you guys.
Your heart is to bring gloryand honor to Jesus, not yourself
(27:56):
.
It's to glorify him and have akingdom perspective, not a me
perspective.
I've watched you guys live inyour own level of financial
difficulties through the yearsand you've continued to stay
strong and focused on what Godcalled you to do.
You're not allowing yourcircumstances at any time in
(28:18):
this process to derail you.
At times, of course, it may bea little concerning and all of
that.
You know whether the financesare there or not there.
And for those that arelistening, if you guys are not
supporting these guys, totally,totally pray about how you can
support them, not only throughprayer but the financial support
(28:38):
, because, as the Bible says,the harvest is ready but the
workers are few and these guysare workers and they are out
there Katie's the little rubberducky inside joke but they never
stop because they want to servethe Lord with until their last
(28:59):
breath, and I have not met acouple out of everyone I know
who is who is this sold out todo what God is calling them to
do, despite the circumstancesthat they have had to walk
through, financially andotherwise, and they are so worth
the investment because God isusing them everywhere, not just
(29:22):
when they're at a play, but whenthey break down before going to
a play and they're witnessingto the guy who's coming to fix
their car.
I mean, it's absolutely like youguys are a living testimony and
it's something that more peopleneed to see and experience and
be a part of, because it'sdifficult.
(29:44):
I mean, I too have been asupportive missionary for 15
years.
I never take for granted thosewho have chosen to support me,
but, as Bob Hager said years agobefore he died, you need
support because you are thehands and feet going out and
doing the ministry.
Without that, you can'tpractically function.
We'd love to say we'll do itanyway, whether we have money or
(30:05):
not, but the bottom line isthat's not how our world works.
One day in heaven, yes we won'tneed the money.
But here on earth it's apractical way that we have to
provide so that we can go outand serve, and you guys do it
with such grace.
That's why I just love you guysso much and so.
Speaker 5 (30:24):
Amen.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
So second question going forward was that it?
What's happening?
What's next?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Come on, Pat, lay out the plan.
What's happening?
What do you have on the horizon?
Speaker 4 (30:33):
So all all along, since Pam and I've been married
and we started doing missionwork together, her heart's
always been for Haiti and sowe've been to Haiti several
times and the gospel isdefinitely needed there.
It's a poverty stricken nation.
It's never been on my heart asa potential place to maybe go
full-time mission or dofull-time mission work.
(30:55):
It's saturated with the gospel.
You got a lot of missionariesthere.
I don't know if you guys haveheard of the term the 1040
window but it's people untouchedfor the gospel.
And so the first trip, when wewent to Albania after we got
home we were praying a littlebit went.
When we went to albania we weresaying, or, you know, after we
got home we were praying alittle bit and I said, well, you
(31:16):
know, I think albania couldpotentially be a full-time place
to plug in for mission work.
And and uh, so five years or,yeah, five years ago we came up
with a or three years ago wecame up with a five-year plan,
and so we're we're three yearsin years in.
So we're praying about doingfull-time mission work in Albany
.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Which you know.
As far as the future for Stepof Faith as a ministry, the
board is aware of our intentions.
They are praying for us, as youguys have been, and you know we
don't know all that God wantsus to do.
If this is where he brings uswants us to do, if this is where
he brings us, we're saying atthis point we feel a two-year
(31:57):
commitment would be a good wayof going, because both of us
will be about 60 in anotherthree years and go over there
and plug in with Pastor Platorand his whole ministry there in
the southeastern part of Albaniaand continue to keep those
connections going back here inthe States through Step of Faith
and things like that.
But the potential of having Godraise up another missions
(32:21):
coordinator because that's myposition here would be a
potential.
We're not sure about thosedetails yet.
We just returned from a trip inDecember.
We were over there for almost amonth and it seemed like God
was opening up more doors for usto step through.
And on our way back we did stopin Italy and we did visit
Pastor Santo and his wife and itwas great to see them and they
(32:43):
also confirmed some things.
And so it's more of a personalpiece of the ministry, but Step
of Faith is continuing to servein Haiti, even though we can't
physically go down there rightnow.
We continue to see studentsgraduating.
A student just graduated fromlaw school in December and is
(33:06):
now practicing law, which is ahuge feat.
In Haiti, most kids don't evenget to go to school, and this
young man went and is now alawyer.
We have others in school, onebecoming a doctor, one becoming
a nurse, an administrator.
We had another young mangraduate a few years ago as a
pastor, and so we're seeing thefruit of that ministry, even
(33:29):
though we can't physically putour feet on the ground.
And we've continued to see howour programs here in New Jersey
continue to grow.
And, of course, albania.
That seems to be an area thatGod is expanding.
As we brought a few teams over,we're bringing another team
over in September.
Wink, wink.
(33:49):
You guys are still prayingabout that one.
Anybody listening to this this?
If you guys want ted and katieto join us this year in albania,
please help them with support,because I know they would love
to go back and they were anamazing.
They were an amazing blessingover there.
Um, they actually, ted, did thefirst church service in an
(34:10):
unfinished church in Sauvignonwhen it was only halfway built
and about 100 people came inattendance.
It was and we're talking 100Muslims, like we're talking
about 70 percent Muslim, therest atheist and less than 2
percent evangelical Christian.
So it was quite quite the nightand he has done similar.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
That was the faith booster, because we were
supposed to start at six orseven no power.
We had no chairs, no power,nothing.
Five minutes before we wereabout to start and I remember
going into that little roomlooking up saying, lord, this is
your deal, this is your deal,we're trusting you here, lord.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
And then that guy showed up.
Right, that guy, that's how heworks, that's how he works.
And so Albania has definitelybecome a front and center
ministry that we see God reallymoving.
As Ted had said earlier, it's asmall country, mostly Muslim
and atheists.
But a quick statistic that wasshared with us in December they
(35:14):
did a census in the areas wherePlator's ministry is,
predominantly Lebanique andMalik and that area a few years
back, and it was about 200people checked the box as
evangelical Christian, which wasnot a bad amount considering
the percentages there.
They recently did anothercensus and it is now upticked to
(35:36):
2,000.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Wow, all right, amen, and that's only because of his
ministry.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
There is no other evangelical ministry there and
he and his volunteers, as wecall them, the Army Ants, are
just doing amazing things there.
And when Ted and Katie comethey've been able to come a
couple of times the ministry ofPlays on Word has been received
not only in the bigger arenasbut with the Bible clubs.
When Ted came up and came upwith his shorter plays, his Paul
(36:06):
Saul play, and the kids were soblessed and would love to have
them back.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Amen, pam, why don't you just close us all in prayer
here?
Because we're going to have youguys back on the program,
because we still need to getinto how you guys met the Lord
and all that.
But we'll do that on anotherepisode.
We will you know, and then we'llget to also Patrick's favorite
power tools.
That's a whole nother podcast.
(36:31):
That's yeah, Patrick is my man.
Like there's only a few guysthat I call when I'm not sure,
like something around the house,ain't right.
I'm like let me text Pat, seewhat Pat does.
I'll just say this I went toLowe's with Patrick, right, and
it was like walking into Cheerswith Norm when I walked into.
(36:53):
Lowe's.
I walked into Lowe's andthey're like hey, hey, pat, hey
Patrick, like they all know thisguy.
And I'm like how do they knowthis guy?
Like that, you know so he'slike a superstar country.
I kid you not.
I kid you not.
And you know what?
We're not in our house overthere in brick anymore, but
whoever is the bathroom floorover there they're happy about.
And and brick anymore, butwhoever is the bathroom floor
(37:14):
over there they're happy about.
And that's Patrick Hess.
That's right.
And you know what?
One of the greatest complimentsI ever got after I did the
floor, I called Pat up and Isaid can you come take a look?
And he came by and looked at itand he said you did a good job.
I stuck my chest out aboutthree extra inches.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
I was so happy.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
I mean, that meant more to me than if my dad would
have said you know, did good job.
It was that close I was, likePat actually said I did a good
job.
I felt like I could build ahouse after that.
Man, yeah, you did do a goodjob, yeah, man.
So why don't you close us inprayer, pam?
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Well, father, god, we are just so thankful, lord,
that we can come together withTed and Katie, even though we're
in states apart, and we canshare this time and these
testimonies, bringing all gloryand honor to you.
Lord, you knew before thefoundations of the world about
Step of Faith and Plays on Word,and you know the next soul
that's going to be touched andtransformed because of these
(38:11):
ministries.
We are just so thankful andprivileged that we get to serve
you through these ministries andwe just pray, Lord, that you
would continue to open thosedoors that need to be opened
with both ministries, lord, thatwe can continue to have a
kingdom perspective, we cancontinue to glorify you through
(38:31):
what you've given us to do whilewe're here on our earth.
And thank you again for Ted andKatie and all that they're
doing, all that they'resacrificing, all that, the
talents and gifts that you havegiven them, lord, to bring your
gospel to life in so many ways.
I just pray a special blessingon them and this time that we
had, and we just love you andpray all this in Jesus' name,
(38:52):
amen.
Lord you know.
Hey guys, you are now listeningto Plays on Word Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
It's the best.
Joseph came up to me one nightand he said what church are you
all from?
And I said, joseph, we are fromnine churches, but what you're
seeing is the power of the HolySpirit bringing us together in
unity, and I'll never forgetthat, because that was such a
testimony of what God can do ifwe're fully surrendered and
willing to work for His gloryand not our own, and do what
(00:29):
he's calling us to do and not betossed back and forth with
these secondary issues.
That has nothing to do withsalvation.
Your name, your name.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Your name.
Hello and welcome to Plays onWord Radio, where we discuss,
analyze, work and play on theWord of God.
(01:08):
Thank you for joining us onthis excursion.
Today, let's join Pastor Teddy,also known as Fred David Kenny
Jr, the founder of Plays on WordTheater, as he does a deep dive
into the Word of God.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Now, how does Step of Faith, how does Step of Faith,
how does Step of Faith, how doesStep of Faith move from Haiti
all the way across the ocean andnext to Italy, this little tiny
country, the size is a littlebit bigger than New Jersey, I
guess.
It's similar to Israel, I guess, as far as size.
How did you end up there?
(01:46):
Because we ended up there,because you ended up there.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well, again, it was through relationships.
It seems like that is a commonthread and step of faith, that
our ministries all come out ofpersonal relationships, and I
think we mentioned early in thepodcast that Mike Durante grew
up with Sue Hager, theco-founder of Step of Faith, and
Mike had been in Albania formany years.
(02:14):
His wife passed and he cameback to the States and started
an Albanian church in northernJersey and Sue and Mike just so
happened to run into each otherlocally, just happened to, just
happened to, and started to talkand he was asking about what
she was doing and she, in turn,about what he was doing and um I
(02:37):
think it was that same year hehad um approached.
Sue and listen, we have twoyoung men over in Albania, just
converted from Muslim toChristian and they would like to
go to seminary.
Would Step of Faith be able tohelp them go to seminary?
And it was like, around theboard table, everyone was like
(02:59):
yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
And that was Melcy and Gno andwe were able to help them
complete their seminary.
And then that was the catalyst.
So that was the piece thatstarted what has transpired
since 2014.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Wow 2014.
Wow, yes, and Gayno, I talkedabout doing a podcast with Gano
at some point.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
He's the sultan of Savion.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Church.
Hey, if you guys listen, if youcould see him.
He looks like he should be asultan or something.
You know what I'm talking about.
He does.
He definitely looks like amovie star.
He's got this rigid look, yes,it's a very unique look.
We love that guy, we love allof them over there.
You guys went over and I thinkyou went with John D.
(03:53):
John Durante went over thefirst time, right when you first
went over.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yep 2018.
Again, it was Mike.
Mike was very encouraging.
He kept talking to Sue andsaying you need to go to Albania
now You've been supporting forfour years.
You need to go see my beautifulcountry.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
That sounds like Mike .
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Yeah, granted, now he's Italian, but it's still his
beautiful country.
He's Italian, albanian.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
And I understand how you embrace that when you go and
, um, I understand how youembrace that when you go.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
so I get it.
So, um, so yeah, so sue andpatrick and I were talking and
because mike and john had atthat time around, that time had
just been reunited, so they hadbeen doing separate ministries
for years and hadn't reallyknown what was going on with
either of their lives, so nowyou have these two cousins
coming back together.
(04:47):
So then it was like, john, comeon over also, you need to see
what's happening here.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
And that was our first trip in 2018, before we
started to bring teams over Stepof faith, connecting again,
connecting other people andother ministries, and there are
people who came from JerseyShore over there to albania
because of that and because ofthat connection again, yeah, I
remember when you guys came backI think you had pictures or
something we came.
(05:13):
You either came over our house,we came over your house and
played a uh pictures and likeslideshow and I just remember
going, wow, man, whoa, and buteven that didn't do it, wasn't?
It didn't do justice to.
Speaker 5 (05:26):
Once I finally got there and I was like oh, this is
what they oh, I get it I get itI might be getting it jumbled a
little bit, but I I know on oneof the trips where plateau came
here to visit, yeah, you hadkind of a meet and greet at your
home.
We got a chance to meet him andwe were talking to him and, you
know, at some point during theconversation I hear Ted say yeah
(05:49):
, I'll come do a play in Albania.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I'll never forget Albania.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I'll never forget Flat door space, flat door space
.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
It was funny too, because we were talking and he
said something.
I said I forget exactly whathappened.
I said, yeah, I'll come overand do a play man.
I'm thinking in my mind how farcan it be?
Albania, california.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
New Jersey Florida.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
How far can it be?
But he had this look on hisface like really, because I can
make that happen.
I know a guy that's an insidejoke for those of you who have
not been to Albania but Platourknows a guy for everything.
Like Platour, my tooth is isfalling out.
I know a guy.
You know my tire, my tire justfell off my truck.
(06:36):
Hang on, ted.
I know a guy and it's like youknow, five minutes later
somebody pulls up and they'recompetent, they're completely
competent on fixing.
Like I saw, um, we, I went to, Iwent to this in, uh, malich,
malich, that's it.
Yeah, yeah, malich, right, soI'm, I'm in a cafe in malich and
, uh, the, the espresso machinegoes down.
(06:59):
Right, the espresso machinegoes down and over there, it's a
big.
You know, you got 25 dudessitting out front like man,
what's going on?
They have to look on the facelike come on, where's the
espresso?
And this guy gets on the phoneand he calls I don't, I don't
know.
It definitely wasn't like arepair, normal repair guy, it
wasn't the Mr Goodwrench.
But this dude pulls up in a car, gets out with his toolbox and
(07:23):
opens up the whole espressomachine and goes to town on it,
fixes it and then leaves.
And I was like I can't, butthat was the guy.
That was the guy.
That was the guy that Plateauwould have called.
It blew my mind.
I mean guy pulled up nomarkings on his truck, no, you
know, wasn't a special tech.
So if anything goes wrong, they, you know, they call a guy and
they're competent.
(07:44):
The machine was working greatafter that.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
I mean I want to get into how Pam has become a board
member and just her heart abouthow she got involved with Plays
on Word and her thoughts on theministry.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Step of Faith was instrumental because they had
the connecting get-togetherwhere we were able to meet with
plateau and and and mike.
And just let it be knownoriginally, when we first met
mike, I thought I said thisguy's, he's kind of a curmudgeon
.
I don't know, I think he's,he's a little he's a little he's
a little curmudgeonly like.
But you know what, like, like,like a beneficial fungus, he
grew on us.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Especially when you're driving in Albania with
him.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I'm not sending him the link to this podcast?
Speaker 1 (08:32):
No, but I was like I don't know what to make of this
guy.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
I don't know what to make of this guy.
Now, I love this guy.
He's like, yes, he's family.
Well, you know what it'sinteresting.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Just like when Katie was kind of saying um what she
just said.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I think back as far as plays on word that started in
your living room when you weregoing through was it esther or
ruth ruth.
We were, yeah, because you know,single for 43 years.
So in ted and katie's livingroom and Ted would go through,
he did the.
He oversaw the singles Biblestudy which brought in people
from all different churches, metin their house.
And because Ted is Ted, he, ashe was going through a book of
(09:16):
the Bible, he would just kind ofstart standing up and acting
out little pieces of it and atsome point during that time I
remember saying I don't know ifit was me or who it was but like
Ted, you should like do a, likeyou should turn this into a
play, like you can do a one manplay.
It was just this blanket kindof thought and it wasn't for
years later, but we saw it backthen.
(09:37):
God had already brought thatout.
You know your, your gifts andtalents, yeah no, no, no.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Well, we got married in 2007 or 8.
When I did the book of Ruthbecause your dad passed away,
and when he was dying in thehospital, I basically busted out
my Bible and did the same thingthat we had done at the study
at the house.
But, pam, I forgot you were,that's right.
You were there.
You were there when we firstdid that book of Ruth.
I remember going up the clifflike, hey, cliff man, this was
(10:05):
amazing People.
They were really getting it,because when I finished, when I
closed the book, everybody inthe house was like their jaw was
on the floor.
They were like what the heckdid?
I just see.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Well, you made it again.
You made the Bible come to life, you made the book of Ruth come
to life, and I remember you'reat your piano and you were like
doing little songs and I mean itwas it started there, that was,
that was plays on word withouta title.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
That's a.
That's a.
That's a good point.
Oh, Katie's got a picture, Ithink.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
September 4th 2009.
Okay.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Ah, yes, oh my gosh, what are you doing?
Oh, my goodness, there you are,that's it oh man, that is
hysterical.
That's when it all began, wow.
And then obviously it was moreof the practicality of it.
I remember Katie you know causeKatie and I used to have coffee
(11:02):
together and be able to spendtime together when you guys
lived up here in brick, and andI remember Katie starting to say
you know, there's this, thiswe've been praying, there's
these thoughts, and how on earthdo we become a nonprofit?
Speaker 5 (11:14):
Right yeah, pam was my nonprofit guru.
Oh yeah, she basically wrotethe book first and then I just
came and gleaned from her.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
There are people that charge a massive amount of
money to be a coach fornonprofit people, to coach them
and to help guide them.
And here we had Pam, whobasically went ahead and blazed
a trail on what not to do, whatto do.
And so when it came time forthe nonprofit aspect of, you
know, being a legit ministry,because people started giving us
(11:46):
money and giving us checks andI was like we need to.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
I remember at one point I was freelancing in
between jobs and we were praying, you know, for a job for me and
I remember Teddy saying youknow, and we were praying for a
job for me and I remember Teddysaying you know I've been
praying for your job and I feellike the Lord told me plays on
word is the job.
And so then I said, well, thenwe need help.
Yeah, we alluded to you.
(12:14):
Guys know that we did it for awhile, and then when we
officially became a nonprofit,it was almost like our coming
out party.
However you would put it was ata function for Step of.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Faith we legitimately become a nonprofit.
Like, yeah, we officially were,legally, we got our papers back
and we were a nonprofit andthat launch, that happened at
the Step of.
Faith another Step of Faithevent League.
We got our papers back and wewere a non-profit.
That launch.
That happened at the Step ofFaith another Step of Faith
event.
It was a connection event whereall these different ministries
were there.
(12:49):
A ton of ministries were there.
Do you want to talk about thatat all?
That first dinner we did at theLobster Shanty?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
Yeah, the Lobster Shanty, howster Shanty.
Yeah, the Lobster Shanty.
How did that come about?
That was again.
That was like a roundtablediscussion because of the like
Patrick had said earlier, bobHager's vision was the hub of a
wagon wheel with all thesespokes going out, and actually
he looked at it that way becauseback when he was first starting
Step of Faith, churchdenominations would not work
(13:21):
together.
It seemed like everyone stayedin their denomination and he
felt like Step of Faith could bethat connection, because we're
not a church, we're not adenomination.
We're actually made up rightnow of like four or five
different churches on our boardand so because of that, we were
able to really connect and arestill connected with over 10
local churches from alldifferent denominations, and
(13:45):
that just continued to connectpeople.
And we found that between, likewhat you guys were starting to
do and Craig and Linan Bogartwith Aslan up in the more North
Jersey and all that they'redoing in Haiti and locally and
we had Mike Durante there aswell, I'm trying to remember
(14:09):
around the room- I don't thinkKaren Peete was there, yet Was
she still on the board?
I can't remember.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Karen.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Oh yeah, Karen was there Was that the first one
with Rooted in Love.
I don't know if it was thefirst one, maybe First or second
one, but the premise was let'sget everyone in the same room
and let's give an overview ofwhat all these ministries are
doing.
And I remember people coming upto me throughout that night
because we had a dinner thattime and shaking their heads and
(14:36):
saying I've never been to anonprofit's dinner where you're
promoting other ministries toget support.
And we said, well, that's justbeen where we want to see other
people who have like-mindedness,who are getting the gospel out
in their ways, with their giftsand talents to be known gifts
(14:57):
and talents to be known.
You know we're not, we're thistiny.
You know, we always say we're alittle mom and pop organization
and God provides the funds andhow he provides the funds for us
.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
We can provide the funds out, but we wanted to see
other like-minded organizationsbe able to be heard and that we
had and share how God's usingthem in their ministry, and that
we had, sure, yeah, using themand their ministry, and yeah, so
it was.
It was a cool way to like bringall of everybody's supporters
together and see what they'resupporting, who they're praying
(15:28):
for, and everybody to share yeah, exactly, and share their
ministries.
So, yeah, it worked.
I got something that's, let metell you, I've been able to do
for years.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Go ahead sorry, funny thing about the funny thing
about that I was sitting at atthe table with Katie and we're
sitting at our table and there'sthis guy sitting next to us and
I'm like where, how do I knowthis guy?
What, what is this guy?
How do I know this guy?
And it was an older gentlemanand it turned out every every
other Sunday or whatever, wewould go to this place called
(15:57):
Benny's now called Sunnyside,right, but we used to go to this
place called Benny's and thiswhole church would come in after
we'd get there and at a certaintime, 12 something, this whole
group of I don't know eight,nine, 10 people would come in
and the ladies would sittogether and the guys would sit
together and I would always sayhi to them.
(16:18):
And I remember saying hi and Ididn't know that the guy that
was next to me was a pastor atthe table at your event.
But finally I think it kicked in.
He said, oh yeah, my name's TomBrown, I'm a pastor of the
Osborneville Church right theredown the street from Benny's,
(16:39):
and I'm like, oh, my goodness,we see this guy every Sunday and
you're here.
And even that made a connectionfor us to where he was able to
see because we did a part of ourPete play, I think.
And he said would you guys comeout to our church?
And I said, yeah, we did a playout at their church.
They were all blessed and itwas just the connectivity of
Step of Faith is.
I cannot emphasize it enoughand I just I can't do justice on
(17:10):
all the connections that youguys have been the center hub
for, but the amount of ministrythat has gone forth.
Just another quick example fromTom's church Pastor Brown and
his wife Sylvia, keep them inyour prayers.
But yeah, we were at his churchand there was a guy up front and
he just straight faced me thewhole time of the play.
He had his arms crossed andstraight faced, no response,
(17:32):
nothing at all.
So I'm doing the play thinking,oh boy, this is not going over
well with this guy.
Oh man, maybe you know what.
I am a little loud and thesefolks are a lot older and I'm
expecting him and his wife tocome up to me and be like you
know it's too loud, you're tooloud, you're too loud.
So after the play he gets upand walks right up to me,
(17:52):
straight face, no expression,and he says that was the best
stage play I've ever seen in mylife.
With a straight face, with astraight face and walks away,
and then he actually cracked asmile and they were all blessed.
But yeah, you cannot judge abook by its cover.
Speaker 5 (18:12):
I was expecting to be given a hard time and he
absolutely loved it and theywere such a blessing you know,
talking about um, the connectionthat you have and and the
non-denominational aspect of it,that's, I mean, that's such a
great model and and was alwaysan inspiration, and um, and
we've picked up on part of thattoo.
(18:32):
I think that's why we can go to.
We've been to so many numerousdenominations and we're focusing
on straight scripture and we'refocusing on Christ, and when
you do that, then you can be infellowship with a lot more
people.
That's where thelike-mindedness comes, the
people that are, you know,believers in Christ and you know
(18:55):
the other secondary things youdon't have to debate about, but
I think that's important.
Or you don't have to divideover.
You can debate things you don'thave to debate about, but I
think that's important.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
You don't have to divide over.
You can divide over, you candebate, but you don't have to
divide.
And the enemy would have usdivide over secondary issues and
issues that are not importantto salvation or even fellowship.
The color of their carpet isred, the color of their carpet
is blue.
They cannot have fellowshiptogether.
That type of stuff.
It's ridiculous.
And the Lord is like hey, wewant some unity.
(19:22):
So you guys have helped tobring the unity which is Christ.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I can just give a real quick testimony on that.
When we were in Haiti one year Ibelieve Patrick was there as
well we had a pretty large teamand we do take like nine months
to prepare a team and geteverybody as prepared as
possible before going down.
And I remember we were all downthere and we're doing all the
different things that that weekor 10 days had to offer.
(19:49):
And Joseph came up to me onenight and he said what church
singular are you from?
Are you all from?
And I said, joseph, churchsingular are you from?
Are you all from?
And I said, joseph, at thatthat team had we had we're from
nine churches.
I said, joseph, we are from ninechurches, but what you're
seeing is the power of the holyspirit bringing us together in
(20:09):
unity, and I'll never forgetthat, because that was such a
testimony of what god can do ifwe're fully surrendered and
willing to work for His gloryand not our own, and do what
he's calling us to do and, likeyou said, not be tossed back and
forth with these secondaryissues.
That has nothing to do withsalvation, where these people
(20:31):
need salvation first andforemost.
So yeah, just wanted to throwthat in there when you said
unity.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, yeah, oh, hey, I'm going to take you guys back.
You probably only certainpeople will understand this, but
we connect like Voltron.
You know that's the idea,connecting like Voltron.
And you know Voltron is made upof well, it depends.
There's one made of a bunch ofdifferent cars, but the other
one is made up of cats five cats, and it's a Japanese animation
(21:01):
thing where they connecttogether to become this one big
robot and in the body of Christ.
you know, I just noticed that wecan get a lot more done when we
connect, like Voltron, you know, and we connect and we put
certain things that are going todivide us.
You know, there are certainthings that are essential, but
you know, but for the most part,many of us, we divide along
lines that are non-essentialsand then that diminishes the
(21:24):
amount of effectiveness we havefor the body of Christ.
So, speaking of effectiveness,there's a lot of people
listening.
Katie, you had something to say.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Well, I was going to say there's a lot of people
listening right now and theywant to learn more, and maybe
the Lord has moved them to helpout or to be involved somehow.
And so how can people supportyou guys and support the work
you're doing?
Find out what's happening.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Well, to connect with us, they can go to our blog
site, stepoffaithministryorg toour blog site,
stepoffaithministryorg.
They can shoot an email topamhess67 at gmailcom.
Let me know what they'reinterested in.
(22:11):
We have stopped going down toHaiti right now because of the
(22:37):
turmoil down there, but we domission trips still.
We can all continue to bringglory to God through what he's
giving us to do.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Amen, we'll make sure we put those links in the show
notes.
Just Atlantic City, now on thesurface, I'm thinking Atlantic
City.
What does Atlantic City need?
That means what?
Are they going down to play theslots?
What's so big about AtlanticCity?
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Well again, another connection.
Years ago, over 12 years ago,our board member Bobby McDonough
had grown up, or he and hiswife were very good friends with
another couple, santo and MaryEllen Garofalo.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Flexible and pioneering Katie.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Remember that, Katie.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
That's inside.
Speaker 5 (23:22):
Katie's twitching right now.
I cannot see what's happeningright now.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
My twitch has come back, but Katie's twitching.
And yet Santo coined.
You have to have a flexible andpioneering spirit.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Oh, he's the one who coined it.
Oh, I get it.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Yeah, santo did yeah, so you can thank him for that
one we need to talk to that guy.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
Yeah you got some contact information.
Speaker 4 (23:42):
You guys need to talk to him in person.
Next trip with us to Albania.
We're going to go over thereand I would love to get you guys
all together.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
They get you hooked up with them in Italy, but at
the time they were a churchplant in Atlantic City called
through a denomination calledNew City Fellowship, and so
Bobby, at a board meeting,brought them up and said listen,
they're doing ministry workdown there in neighborhoods that
nobody wants to go into, blocksfrom the boardwalk and let's
(24:11):
check it out.
So I had gone down and just dida day with them and met them
and realized, wow, this is avery needed ministry, like you
said.
I mean people think AtlanticCity, they think gambling, they
think money, they think hotels.
50 minutes down the parkwayfrom where we live, you have
children that are afraid tosleep in their own beds because
(24:32):
bullets come flying throughtheir windows.
You have a huge problem withdrugs, single parent homes,
prostitution, you name it.
It's a one square mile, it'snot a big area, atlantic City
and it has just a lot of peoplewho came in to work the casinos
(24:52):
and when some of the casinoshave shut down, you now have
3000 people that have no workand they don't have enough money
to get out of Atlantic City, sothey get put into these
complexes called Carver Hall.
We call it Back Maryland Busby,different, you know, apartment
complexes, lower income andthat's where New City pours into
(25:13):
.
And so for the last 12 yearswe're going again this summer.
We just had our first missionteam meeting last weekend.
We'll be taking another teamdown this summer.
We spend a week with them.
We bring up a Bible club forthree nights at.
Carver Hall is our destinationof choice now to go to, and
during the day they tell us whatother needs there are in the
(25:33):
community.
It could be any type of workprojects.
It could be helping a shut-inelderly woman get groceries.
Every year is different andthey plan the days.
They disciple us to help usunderstand how to connect the
community to the church.
They do teachings on racialreconciliation and all gospel
focused teachings and worship,and so, yeah, that's how we got
(25:58):
connected and it's actually fromthe Atlantic City trip back in
2012.
One of our teammates said whycan't we do this closer to home?
And I said, well, where wouldthat be?
And she said the Maple LeafApartments.
And at the time I didn't knowwhat the Maple Leaf Apartments
were, but they turn out to belower income housing projects
right here in Brick and that's awhole nother testimony.
(26:19):
But the bottom line is we havebeen there now for 12 years
doing an after school tutoringprogram.
So their ministry in AtlanticCity birthed this tutoring
program here in Brick that manychurches have been involved with
now for the last 12 years.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
So yeah, exciting stuff Plays on Word was even
there, that's right you guyscame, and that's right.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
You did one of your plays there.
Christmas Joe play there.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
That was a blessing.
So you guys are likefirefighters.
You go in when everybody elseis running out of a building
that's on fire.
Missionaries and Step of Faithin particular, is the type
that's like going in to thebuilding that's on fire or the
place that everybody wants toget out of.
You guys find a way to go inthere and minister the gospel,
and it's amazing that the gospelgoes forward.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
You know we just talked a lot of history today
and you know, pam, you werethere from day one when this was
thoughts on a piece of paper towhere we are now, and so I just
want to ask you where yourheart is, why I mean as a board
member, as a supporter throughStep of Faith, why do you
support Plays on Word?
(27:26):
And then the next question, myfinal question, will be what's
next for Step of Faith?
What do you want us to knowabout what's happening in the
future?
Speaker 3 (27:33):
The first question is very easy.
Having known you guys as longas I have, first and foremost,
your heart to be an instrumentin God's hands has always been
first and foremost you guys are.
What you see is what you get,and I love that about you guys.
Your heart is to bring gloryand honor to Jesus, not yourself
(27:56):
.
It's to glorify him and have akingdom perspective, not a me
perspective.
I've watched you guys live inyour own level of financial
difficulties through the yearsand you've continued to stay
strong and focused on what Godcalled you to do.
You're not allowing yourcircumstances at any time in
(28:18):
this process to derail you.
At times, of course, it may bea little concerning and all of
that.
You know whether the financesare there or not there.
And for those that arelistening, if you guys are not
supporting these guys, totally,totally pray about how you can
support them, not only throughprayer but the financial support
(28:38):
, because, as the Bible says,the harvest is ready but the
workers are few and these guysare workers and they are out
there Katie's the little rubberducky inside joke but they never
stop because they want to servethe Lord with until their last
(28:59):
breath, and I have not met acouple out of everyone I know
who is who is this sold out todo what God is calling them to
do, despite the circumstancesthat they have had to walk
through, financially andotherwise, and they are so worth
the investment because God isusing them everywhere, not just
(29:22):
when they're at a play, but whenthey break down before going to
a play and they're witnessingto the guy who's coming to fix
their car.
I mean, it's absolutely like youguys are a living testimony and
it's something that more peopleneed to see and experience and
be a part of, because it'sdifficult.
(29:44):
I mean, I too have been asupportive missionary for 15
years.
I never take for granted thosewho have chosen to support me,
but, as Bob Hager said years agobefore he died, you need
support because you are thehands and feet going out and
doing the ministry.
Without that, you can'tpractically function.
We'd love to say we'll do itanyway, whether we have money or
(30:05):
not, but the bottom line isthat's not how our world works.
One day in heaven, yes we won'tneed the money.
But here on earth it's apractical way that we have to
provide so that we can go outand serve, and you guys do it
with such grace.
That's why I just love you guysso much and so.
Speaker 5 (30:24):
Amen.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
So second question going forward was that it?
What's happening?
What's next?
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Come on, Pat, lay out the plan.
What's happening?
What do you have on the horizon?
Speaker 4 (30:33):
So all all along, since Pam and I've been married
and we started doing missionwork together, her heart's
always been for Haiti and sowe've been to Haiti several
times and the gospel isdefinitely needed there.
It's a poverty stricken nation.
It's never been on my heart asa potential place to maybe go
full-time mission or dofull-time mission work.
(30:55):
It's saturated with the gospel.
You got a lot of missionariesthere.
I don't know if you guys haveheard of the term the 1040
window but it's people untouchedfor the gospel.
And so the first trip, when wewent to Albania after we got
home we were praying a littlebit went.
When we went to albania we weresaying, or, you know, after we
got home we were praying alittle bit and I said, well, you
(31:16):
know, I think albania couldpotentially be a full-time place
to plug in for mission work.
And and uh, so five years or,yeah, five years ago we came up
with a or three years ago wecame up with a five-year plan,
and so we're we're three yearsin years in.
So we're praying about doingfull-time mission work in Albany
.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Which you know.
As far as the future for Stepof Faith as a ministry, the
board is aware of our intentions.
They are praying for us, as youguys have been, and you know we
don't know all that God wantsus to do.
If this is where he brings uswants us to do, if this is where
he brings us, we're saying atthis point we feel a two-year
(31:57):
commitment would be a good wayof going, because both of us
will be about 60 in anotherthree years and go over there
and plug in with Pastor Platorand his whole ministry there in
the southeastern part of Albaniaand continue to keep those
connections going back here inthe States through Step of Faith
and things like that.
But the potential of having Godraise up another missions
(32:21):
coordinator because that's myposition here would be a
potential.
We're not sure about thosedetails yet.
We just returned from a trip inDecember.
We were over there for almost amonth and it seemed like God
was opening up more doors for usto step through.
And on our way back we did stopin Italy and we did visit
Pastor Santo and his wife and itwas great to see them and they
(32:43):
also confirmed some things.
And so it's more of a personalpiece of the ministry, but Step
of Faith is continuing to servein Haiti, even though we can't
physically go down there rightnow.
We continue to see studentsgraduating.
A student just graduated fromlaw school in December and is
(33:06):
now practicing law, which is ahuge feat.
In Haiti, most kids don't evenget to go to school, and this
young man went and is now alawyer.
We have others in school, onebecoming a doctor, one becoming
a nurse, an administrator.
We had another young mangraduate a few years ago as a
pastor, and so we're seeing thefruit of that ministry, even
(33:29):
though we can't physically putour feet on the ground.
And we've continued to see howour programs here in New Jersey
continue to grow.
And, of course, albania.
That seems to be an area thatGod is expanding.
As we brought a few teams over,we're bringing another team
over in September.
Wink, wink.
(33:49):
You guys are still prayingabout that one.
Anybody listening to this this?
If you guys want ted and katieto join us this year in albania,
please help them with support,because I know they would love
to go back and they were anamazing.
They were an amazing blessingover there.
Um, they actually, ted, did thefirst church service in an
(34:10):
unfinished church in Sauvignonwhen it was only halfway built
and about 100 people came inattendance.
It was and we're talking 100Muslims, like we're talking
about 70 percent Muslim, therest atheist and less than 2
percent evangelical Christian.
So it was quite quite the nightand he has done similar.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
That was the faith booster, because we were
supposed to start at six orseven no power.
We had no chairs, no power,nothing.
Five minutes before we wereabout to start and I remember
going into that little roomlooking up saying, lord, this is
your deal, this is your deal,we're trusting you here, lord.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
And then that guy showed up.
Right, that guy, that's how heworks, that's how he works.
And so Albania has definitelybecome a front and center
ministry that we see God reallymoving.
As Ted had said earlier, it's asmall country, mostly Muslim
and atheists.
But a quick statistic that wasshared with us in December they
(35:14):
did a census in the areas wherePlator's ministry is,
predominantly Lebanique andMalik and that area a few years
back, and it was about 200people checked the box as
evangelical Christian, which wasnot a bad amount considering
the percentages there.
They recently did anothercensus and it is now upticked to
(35:36):
2,000.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Wow, all right, amen, and that's only because of his
ministry.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
There is no other evangelical ministry there and
he and his volunteers, as wecall them, the Army Ants, are
just doing amazing things there.
And when Ted and Katie comethey've been able to come a
couple of times the ministry ofPlays on Word has been received
not only in the bigger arenasbut with the Bible clubs.
When Ted came up and came upwith his shorter plays, his Paul
(36:06):
Saul play, and the kids were soblessed and would love to have
them back.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Amen, pam, why don't you just close us all in prayer
here?
Because we're going to have youguys back on the program,
because we still need to getinto how you guys met the Lord
and all that.
But we'll do that on anotherepisode.
We will you know, and then we'llget to also Patrick's favorite
power tools.
That's a whole nother podcast.
(36:31):
That's yeah, Patrick is my man.
Like there's only a few guysthat I call when I'm not sure,
like something around the house,ain't right.
I'm like let me text Pat, seewhat Pat does.
I'll just say this I went toLowe's with Patrick, right, and
it was like walking into Cheerswith Norm when I walked into.
(36:53):
Lowe's.
I walked into Lowe's andthey're like hey, hey, pat, hey
Patrick, like they all know thisguy.
And I'm like how do they knowthis guy?
Like that, you know so he'slike a superstar country.
I kid you not.
I kid you not.
And you know what?
We're not in our house overthere in brick anymore, but
whoever is the bathroom floorover there they're happy about.
And and brick anymore, butwhoever is the bathroom floor
(37:14):
over there they're happy about.
And that's Patrick Hess.
That's right.
And you know what?
One of the greatest complimentsI ever got after I did the
floor, I called Pat up and Isaid can you come take a look?
And he came by and looked at itand he said you did a good job.
I stuck my chest out aboutthree extra inches.
Speaker 1 (37:29):
I was so happy.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
I mean, that meant more to me than if my dad would
have said you know, did good job.
It was that close I was, likePat actually said I did a good
job.
I felt like I could build ahouse after that.
Man, yeah, you did do a goodjob, yeah, man.
So why don't you close us inprayer, pam?
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Well, father, god, we are just so thankful, lord,
that we can come together withTed and Katie, even though we're
in states apart, and we canshare this time and these
testimonies, bringing all gloryand honor to you.
Lord, you knew before thefoundations of the world about
Step of Faith and Plays on Word,and you know the next soul
that's going to be touched andtransformed because of these
(38:11):
ministries.
We are just so thankful andprivileged that we get to serve
you through these ministries andwe just pray, Lord, that you
would continue to open thosedoors that need to be opened
with both ministries, lord, thatwe can continue to have a
kingdom perspective, we cancontinue to glorify you through
(38:31):
what you've given us to do whilewe're here on our earth.
And thank you again for Ted andKatie and all that they're
doing, all that they'resacrificing, all that, the
talents and gifts that you havegiven them, lord, to bring your
gospel to life in so many ways.
I just pray a special blessingon them and this time that we
had, and we just love you andpray all this in Jesus' name,
(38:52):
amen.
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