Rescued by Grace

In our society today, ending the life of an unwanted baby is a very common event. Governmental leaders and legislators have provided resources that facilitate these terrible procedures up until the time of birth and sometimes immediately after birth. What if a woman with an unwanted pregnancy carried her baby to birth and then gave the child up to be raised by families who desperately wanted a child?

Rex and Dee were totally in love and wanted to marry, but she knew that before it could happen they would need to have the “talk” and realities would have to be discussed. You see, Dee had endured a difficult abdominal surgery as a teen, and her ability to conceive a child was uncertain at best. Like a man deeply in love, Rex said it did not change his feelings. She was the one he wanted to spend his life with, and they would deal with the circumstances of life that God sent their way. They were familiar with Romans 8:28,   “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”. One year into their marriage their faith would be tested when Dee had surgery to remove a tumor sadly causing the possibility of conception for this wonderful Christian wife to be lost forever.

The desire of their hearts to have a family was fulfilled when after three years of marriage they were able to adopt a baby girl, who eventually grew up and has lived a life in law enforcement and education. As blessed as they felt, they were still burdened about adding another child to their family. When past facilitators could not help them they talked to their pastor, Theron Spurr, and he told them he would make some connections for them. They had done what they could, and the rest was in God’s hands

Sooner than expected, that anticipated, wonderful, day finally arrived as they sat holding a four month old baby boy with big blue eyes. God had allowed them to adopt and love a second child. In the midst of humble gratitude for answered prayers, they couldn’t help but wonder about what God had in store for this newest member of their family.

I first connected with this family when they joined our church and volunteered to serve in the nursery. My wife, Konnie, was involved in that part of church ministry and was very impressed with Rex and Dee. She knew that because of tremendous growth in our Christian school student body, I was looking to add another secretary to our office staff. She suggested Dee and the rest is history. We were blessed to have her work with us at the school for 33 years.

My first memory of their son Steven dates back to when he entered our school in the first grade in 1983. What a wonderful student he was, and what an outstanding athlete. He wanted to use his athletic abilities to get a scholarship to help pay for his college and develop his academics in order to someday become a teacher. He also dreamed of coming back to teach at our school.

He excelled in every sport our school offered, but basketball was his favorite. Upon graduation from high school, he was recruited by a small Christian college, but the scholarship offer was very limited. What a joy it was when I talked to Dee about an available scholarship to Liberty University that had come to my attention. His formal athletic days would be over, but it was an opportunity Steven knew was from the Lord.

Steven left for the exciting adventure that was Liberty University, in 1993, where he promptly met a young lady while playing volleyball at a freshman social mixer. In October, he and Stephanie started dating, and it wasn’t long before they were inseparable. By the end of their junior year, they were married.

Steven and Stephanie graduated from Liberty in 1998, and returned to teach at our school for 16 years until the ministry was closed in 2016. Stephanie taught and worked while Steven taught and coached and served as our Athletic Director. In doing all of this, they still managed to find time to have six children: Hayden, Kallie, Riley, Emma, Tanner and Reese. The couple, who had lost all hope of having children now have a legacy of six grandchildren to love and watch grow up.

After the closing of the school, Steven was hired to serve as a staff pastor at a local church. He is also assisting the girls’ basketball coach at another Christian school where his daughter, Callie, has become one of the best players in that area of Michigan. Several of her siblings may one day top her athletic accomplishments. Most importantly, this is a family that loves and serves Jesus.

Looking back we see a mother who, for whatever reason, couldn’t keep her baby, but delivered him and gave him a chance at life.  We see a young Christian couple who came to terms with God’s limitations on their family and allowed Him to fulfill their dreams through the adoption path.  We see a young man, who was given an opportunity to exist, and then flourished in the grace of God, and is living a wonderful, Godly, fruitful life leading, loving and serving his family.

Psalm 92:12-14 tells us:
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,

Do you know someone who is in a dilemma about an unwanted pregnancy, or is not in a position to care for a child? Talk to them and urge them to give the baby a chance at life and watch the miracle that God can do. There are people in our church, and many other churches, who would love to nurture and raise a child, if someone would only give them the opportunity. Please—give the baby a chance to live and flourish in God’s amazing grace.

Isn’t God’s grace a wonderful thing?

Roger Allen Cook  

I love to write stories about God’s grace. If you have a story I should consider, please contact me at:    roger.cook@southsidefamily.com