Page 26 - 2018 Annual Report | Catalyst Magazine

Stephen has found through the saturation of the Word the mes- sage of the cross. It is beyond anevent; it is a style. Thus, the cross is not a piece of wood or an emblem, but it is the heart of the person of Christ. Cross style is the Christ style. He must be central. As an international evan- gelist, he has taken this message to the world. Expositional preaching is cross-cultural and meets the need on every level.Note: the following article/biography was written for the Nazarene Evangelist Perspective Magazine, published in Win- ter/Spring 2012. Used by permission.BIOGRAPHY OF STEPHEN MANLEYStephen Manley is a Jesus Pusher. It sounds a bit odd perhaps; some peo- ple “push” drugs or alcohol, sex or entertainment, and I guess in our own ways we all have something we “push.” But I have met few individuals with such an intense focus on one thing. For Stephen Manley, his one thing, his only passion, his single desire is Jesus. In his own words:I am a Jesus pusher!!!! I am an un- daunted, courageous, stouthearted, bold, adventuresome, brave, fearless, gallant, heroic, lionhearted, unafraid, un inching, valiant Jesus pusher. I cannot help myself. He is startling and He has overwhelmed me. I do not speak of ideas about Jesus or his- torical information concerning Him. I speak about Him. I am a Jesus push- er!!!! I am a mastered, possessed, ad-dicted and obsessed Jesus pusher. There seems to be no way to quit. But who would want to?And Stephen does everything he can to “push” Jesus on everyone. No, Stephen is not aggressive, mean, or harsh, but he is intense, focused, and dedicated. Perhaps that’s because of the foundation God laid in his life at a young age.THE FOUNDATIONStephen Manley, born July 18, 1942, grew up in the home of an Indiana Methodist pastor, which provided the basis for his early spiritual growth. Stephen received his call to ministry at the age of seven and began lling his father’s pulpit at the age of elev- en. But as a young man entering high school, he was con icted and torn with the reality of his spiritual life.There must be something more.During the lunch hour one afternoon, Stephen stole away from the high school and walked across the street to his dad’s church, hiding in a classroom to think and pray. There was no emo- tional surge, no lights in the sky, no booming voices, but Stephen left the church radically altered in heart and mind; Christianity is about intimacy with Jesus! Stephen concluded if the essence of Christianity is oneness with Jesus – the outside God getting to be inside, living and sourcing one’s life – then it is critical to keep one’s focus upon Jesus throughout the day, not26 CITYLIGHT | CROSS STYLE | ECUMENICAL CHURCH & UNIVERSITYABOUT STEPHEN MANLEY