Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your interest and partnership with me in the new ministry that God is opening up in the Southwest USA. I am convinced that none of this would be possible without the prayers and financial support of God’s people.

GOODBYES

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and mixed emotions. It was more difficult than I had anticipated packing up my (rented) house, selling my possessions, and saying goodbye to my church family, friends and colleagues in Marion, IN.

CAMP MEETING

Since then, I’ve experienced my first camp meeting officially representing WGM as a missionary. It was an honor and privilege to be part of the ministry team at Sharon Holiness Camp in NE Ohio. It was a delight to share the story of God’s great faithfulness in my life, and to encourage partnership in the new missionary training program in Peoria, AZ and the ongoing work among Native Americans.  

FAMILY

Last week I had the privilege of spending my birthday week with my amazing daughters and their families.  It was wonderful to have some special bonding times with my favorite grandsons, Finley (3 and a half years old) and Caden (8 months).

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

I’m looking forward to three more camps this summer, several churches, and lots of personal visits in OH, NC, KY, FL, VA, MD, NJ and then back in Indiana in September. I would love to have the opportunity to meet and share personally with each one of you. If you live in any of the areas where I’ll be traveling, please reach out to me, and let’s set up a time to meet. If not, I would love to have a video chat with you and share more details about how God has been moving and all that lies ahead.

Once again, thank you for your prayers and financial support. I’ve attached a link below to my online ministry page which will give you more information and a simple way to give financially. The goal is to have $6900.00 per month in recurring gifts and be able to head to Arizona in late September. That amount covers all living, ministry, and travel costs. It may sound ambitious, but I firmly believe that God is in it, and that He will supply. Please pray about how YOU might be involved, and feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have. I’m looking forward to building a team of prayer partners, financial supporters, and those who can help in other practical ways such as tech support with MailChimp, helping with occasional hard-copy prayer letters, and more.

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel!  May God bless you abundantly!

More Information and Online Giving

You can also choose to mail your gift to World Gospel Mission at P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952. Please reference account #64946 or include “Steve Hughes” in the memo for proper allocation.

JUNE 19, 2023   |   3 MINUTE READ
STEVE HUGHES, MISSIONARY WITH SOUTHWEST MINISTRIES

A Harvest Fifty Years in the Making

I was traveling with a group of students last year from Ohio Christian University to WGM’s Southwest Ministries. As I spoke with WGM’s missionaries, I discovered that we shared a common vision to see young, passionate followers of Jesus trained and equipped for missionary service—and we dreamed together of what that might look like on our Peoria, AZ, campus.

And I was reminded that five decades before, God planted a seed in my young heart that seemed to be sprouting up in a way I couldn’t have imagined all those years ago.  

Steve eats dinner with the Liston family in their ramada.

I was seven years old, and my family climbed into the old Rambler Station Wagon and set off on a 14-hour drive to Cherokee, North Carolina. We were visiting a close friend of my dad’s who was a missionary to the Cherokee people there. And in the few days that we visited him, I developed an insatiable interest in Native American cultures, lifestyles, and history. I even told my parents that I wanted to be a Native American when I grew up.

What most gripped my heart, though, was the fact that this family friend’s life work was to share Jesus with these precious indigenous people. It sounded like a dream job to me!

Now, in 2022, I stood in Arizona, realizing that God was doing something new. Well, new to me. He’d been working on this for five decades.

Steve stands behind the Southwest Ministries Christian Community Center sign.

Coming to Faith

I came to a personal faith in Christ when I was twelve and immediately wanted to tell the world what Jesus had done for me—but I didn’t know how. Being extremely shy and lacking in confidence, I pleaded with God to give me a way to share my faith. Soon, I discovered that God had made it easier for me to express spiritual truths through writing songs than sharing them with words alone.

Mobilizing Believers for Christ

Within a few years, I began to mobilize people to missions without even knowing what mobilization was! I organized missions conferences, interviewed missionaries on the radio, and traveled internationally for six years promoting missions through music ministry and sharing about the spiritual needs of various countries. I wanted to grow deeper and stronger in my faith, and I longed to see others do the same.

A Native American boy in Arizona wears Steve’s hat.

God continued to give me opportunities to work in missions and discipleship throughout my ministry career. I was able to serve as missionary president at my Bible college, meet weekly with young men who wanted to grow deeper in their faith, and, as a pastor in the UK, host or lead over twenty short-term mission trips. Finally, in 2021, I moved to Marion, Indiana, and began working as a mobilizer for WGM.

I Mobilized Myself

Near the end of 2023, I will relocate to Arizona to serve as program director for “Discovery Year,” WGM’s brand-new discipleship and missionary training residency program which will, in fact, be located on the Peoria campus. My primary responsibility will be to help train and equip young men who have a passion for Jesus to go out into the world as effective disciple-makers and missionaries.

A Harvest at God’s Pace

God works at His own pace. From the moment God blessed Abraham until Isaac was born, 25 years went by. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Even Jesus wasn’t baptized until He was 30.

I was seven when God first made my heart beat for Native Americans. Now, at 62, I’m seeing His promise come true. And I can’t wait to see what He does next.

Steve with WGM missionaries LeRoy and Sandy Anderson, along with some kids from the area.

ACTION STEP

GO: In the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (panta ta ethne in Greek—meaning ‘tribes’ or ‘people groups’). That is an incredibly tall order, but the Commission is for all of us. None of us can do it alone. The fields are still “ripe for harvest” and we are all called to be involved, whether going, praying, giving, equipping, or sending. God has called me to go to Southwest Ministries.

Where has He been calling you? Take a look at our interactive map to see where you could serve.

Missionary Bio: Steve Hughes has been passionate about Native American culture, missions, and discipleship for most of his life. He’s excited to see how God uses this next stage of his ministry journey to bring people to a deeper knowledge of His love and goodness.

STEVE HUGHES on Jun 19, 2023