Newsletter October 2026

Dear Saints,
   A while back, God opened up a door for me to meet Pastor Paul and Dottie Stevens. Last year, December 31, Dottie, a dynamic, humble, caring woman of God, went home to glory. This newsletter is dedicated to Pastor Paul and all those who will be blessed by reading his wife’s writings.

   Dottie’s ministry, “Encouraging Hearts”, was birthed to uplift believers' thinking, to line up with God’s Word. Her desire was for the body of Christ to know the love of God in a deep personal way. She was selfless in her commitment to God, his kingdom, and his children. For years I was so blessed by this humble woman’s writings. The following is a pencil point of over a thousand letters that the Holy Spirit led her to write.

   My letter this week is about the gift God gave me to bless the hearts of those I write to. I have been engaged in what is increasingly becoming a lost art form. Each week I have spent much time penning personal words of encouragement, prayers, life-sustaining words, joys, heartaches, and the needs of friends and family. I appreciate the Apostle Paul’s words that those who follow Jesus are (a letter from Christ), who were written not only with Ink, but with the Spirit of the living God 2 Cor 3:3. We are powerful witnesses of God’s grace and Jesus’ Redemption. For as meaningful as written words can be, it has been my life that speaks life. It has been one of compassion, love, gratitude and joy. Over the many years, the Lord has used me to spread his unchanging love to many.

   I’ve had numerous challenges in my body, but I refuse not to praise God through them all. Some are as follows, all of which God healed. My first cataract surgery on my right eye had a genetic problem with risk involved; I trusted the Lord that He would give my surgeon wisdom and skill (He did). A stomach virus brought me a lot of pain; I had congestive heart failure and a hard time breathing; Four different times at the hospital to remove fluids; Pneumonia; Covid; Dialysis 4 different times; Cancerous lesion under my eye. One night I had such pain in my leg, I prayed Psalm 91 over and over until the pain went away. Another time I prayed all night long and God healed me. There was one time I was very ill and spent many days in a hospital; I thought God was going to take me home. I’m glad he didn’t, because I wanted to live to continue to write. God has always demonstrated over and over his faithfulness to me.

   God counsels us to meditate on his Word so that, without being overcome, we would be able to face tribulations with victorious thinking. God will empower us to stand as pillars of peace in raging storms; we won’t be anxious or fearful because we will draw on the living water that nourishes us. As the world trembles in fear, we’ll move forward in faith, knowing that God’s Anointed (Jesus) holds everything in His Hands. God has called us to carry the message of repentance, mercy, and hope to a waiting world. We may suffer, yet we will prosper, because we are rooted and grounded beside the river of life. Christ is the Living Water, so when difficult times come, we will be strong and able to support and encourage each other. The things God does every day, through the hardships in our lives, fill me with wonder. In our difficult times, He will never leave or forsake us.

   Our God is Great, All–Powerful, and Almighty. It’s such a comfort knowing He cares for everything that concerns us. What a blessing to know the God of the universe (our Father) is Awesome and Wonderful. I praise him for such love that he bestows upon me and all his children. There is one fact needed to remember, God is always in control. He faithfully stands by us in every situation, and my faithful praying taught me to know that.

Thank you, Dottie Stevens,

Rev. Joseph & Rev. Benjamin