Baptists call on a woman to fill pulpit

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Robin Stepps was installed in March as pastor of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Tucker -- an unusual role for a woman in a traditional Baptist church.

The small congregation of about 20 elected Stepps to the position by majority vote. She had been serving as interim pastor for about six months and was mentored by the previous pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Harris.

"My predecessor, Kenneth Harris, saw the potential in me and asked me to assist and pulled me to the pulpit," Stepps said. "He didn't look at tradition, but that I had gifts beneficial to the church."

Preston Gaddy, a deacon at the church, said church attendance has increased since Stepps began serving as pastor.

"Our membership is growing," Gaddy said. "It was down to nothing."

Gaddy credits Stepps with the change.

Stepps, 55, has a long history in ministry. She serves as a chaplain for the Arkansas Department of Correction, Varner Unit, and has also served as a hospital chaplain. She is a licensed missionary and evangelist. In addition to her work in ministry, Stepps also was a teacher for 32 years in the Little Rock and Pine Bluff school districts.

A native of the small town of England, her father, the late O.V. Harrison, was also a minister. Her mother is the late Ruth Tanks.

Stepps earned a bachelor of science degree in home economics and family and consumer science from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1980 and returned for a master's degree in addiction studies in 2004. Stepps said studying addiction opened her eyes to addicts' needs as well as the lack of action by the church. She realized she could use her role as a missionary and evangelist to help spread the word about addiction.

"I felt that through ministry, I could make some changes," she said. "I have no doubt it was a chosen ministry for me. He equipped me."

Stepps said her new role as pastor allows her to combine all of her past experiences -- education, addiction studies and ministry.

Her husband, Michael Stepps, is a deacon at the church. He said they discussed her taking on the role of minister.

"I'm behind her and encourage her in all aspects," he said. "Sometimes it's hard, but we lift one another up and our faith does it more than anything."

Now he serves an unexpected role.

"I never though I'd be a 'first man,'" he said with a smile. (The wives of pastors in black churches are often referred to as "first ladies.")

Some Sundays, Stepps preaches three times, first at Varner, then at the church and sometimes as a guest minister. A typical Sunday includes preaching and teaching, then the family comes home for a meal and to visit.

"It's pretty laid-back," she said. "Then, I sleep."

Ministry, she has found, never stops. After leaving work as a full-time chaplain at the prison, she often heads to the hospital to visit ill church members.

"It's seven days a week, but balance is coming," she said. "But because I enjoy what I do, it's not like working."

Stepps said she relies on her years as a teacher to help her convey Bible lessons and preach. She has also learned to keep up with technology so she can communicate with younger members. She watches the movies they watch and listens to their music.

"I have to be aware," she said. "I have to know what they are seeing so I can address it."

Stepps said she is a "humble servant" for God and she's happy with her new role as minister.

"I'm satisfied that I've reached the place I believe I was called to go," she said.

Religion on 06/14/2014