Man finds his calling through faith, challenges and giving back

Periodically, 318 Forum’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person — someone who is well-known, successful and/or influential, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”

Easter 2018.

Life was good. Real good.

The Texas church he was pastor of had just completed an extraordinarily successful capital campaign.

The college campus ministry that his wife led was “exploding.”

“We were at the mountaintop.” And ripe for what he calls “spiritual warfare.”

“When you’re going through good things, that’s when you’re going to get hit really hard. ... That’s when you get tested. That’s when you get punched in the gut — sucker punched.”

But the pastor certainly didn’t expect to get knocked down at Easter brunch. The festive occasion turned into a two-month nightmare.

“Everybody at our table who ate raw oysters got salmonella.”

Including the pastor and one of his two daughters. He eventually got well. She struggled. For weeks, the 14-year-old had excruciating abdominal pain.

Doctors could not find the cause except for one physician, an interventional radiologist.

“He’s the guy that saved our daughter’s life.”

But not before the young girl endured four surgeries, spent a month in the hospital and another month receiving daily antibiotic injections. Wasn’t that enough to make her parents doubt their maker even though they were both ordained ministers?

“I wouldn’t say it caused me to question my faith. I think I can speak the same for my wife. Now, if my daughter had died, I might have a whole different answer to that question,” Bell said.

Thankfully, she didn’t die. But physically, she’s not the same. Once a swimmer, the now-college sophomore has reduced air capacity.

Her father isn’t the same, either. “You don’t walk away from that not being changed. I would never want to go through that again. I would never wish that on anybody.”

Dr. Steven Bell, senior pastor of First Methodist Church in Shreveport, told me that story, and his story, during lunch at one of his favorite places, Monjunis Italian Café & Grocery. The 49-year-old had a lunch special: lasagna and a side of Caesar salad. I had the lunch special of spaghetti, one meatball and a side house salad. Both of us had water with lemon.

“I really didn’t know how (his daughter’s illness) was going to end. I trusted God was walking with us through the whole process.”

Steven’s 26-year ministry career — he is serving his ninth church — almost didn’t happen. Oh, he would still be a doctor. But instead of preaching the gospel, he would be ordering bloodwork.

“My dream was to go to college, go to medical school and go into private practice with my dad.”

Steven’s father was a “celebrity” in Coushatta, where Steven grew up.

“People would come to our house after hours. They would show up and know Dr. Bell was going to see them. He was the kind of doctor that, even after it was out of fashion, he was still making house calls. He had his bag.”

However, corporate America didn’t care about Steven’s dream. He was halfway through college when a large hospital system made Dr. Bell “an offer he couldn’t refuse.” Dr. Bell sold.

“My dream was gone.” But ever since he was 17, Steven — who was always a believer — had been serious about his faith.

“I was in worship at First Baptist Church in Coushatta. We were singing. I realized this isn’t just something we’re doing. This is real. We’re singing to a God who hears us and has a plan for our life.”

Steven didn’t know that plan. After graduating from Centenary College of Louisiana, he was torn between pursuing medicine and pursuing ministry. Steven solicited people’s thoughts. He heard reasonings for both professions. Then came a conversation with one of Steven’s professors, for whom Steven had great respect.

“He said, ‘Steven, I’m going to say this to you. You will make a fine doctor one day. I have no doubt about that. But given the gifts you have, I think the Lord needs you more so in pastoral ministry, and I just have to say that.’”

Dr. Steven Bell is senior pastor of First Methodist Church in Shreveport.

Thinking back, Steven says that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

So, Steven “pulled my little U-Haul trailer full of what few belongings I had” to seminary school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. That’s where he met his now wife of 24 years (they dated 10 months), Meredith. Steven graduated in 2001 and, five years later, became an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church.

But serving God in a traditional role wasn’t — and still isn’t — enough.

Steven had long known the military — particularly the Army — needed chaplains. The first time he considered becoming one, his wife wasn’t on board.

“Her understanding was that I was going to sign on the dotted line, raise my right hand, be deployed, not come home and leave her as a widow with a young child.”

But years later, after the scare of losing a child, Steven’s wife felt differently.

“With all we’ve gone through with Ann ... I’m not afraid of anything anymore. If you still feel called to this, you need to do this,” Meredith told him.

He did. Four years ago, Steven was commissioned as an Army captain. Now, with his second unit, Steven spends six days a quarter at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.

“What do you do to give back? As I looked at my peers in the ministry, there just aren’t a lot of people that have the physical ability, the resilience, the desire, then ultimately the calling to serve military personnel. I did, and I still do.”

And not to be discounted is Steven’s patriotic gratitude.

“I love the country we are so privileged and fortunate to live in.”

Considering Steven leads a church with approximately 4,000 members (plus a television audience), oversees a staff of 100 and ministers to men and women in uniform, I knew his time was better spent somewhere other than at a restaurant with me. So, I asked my final question. As always, what about his life story would he pass along to others? Steven suggested the acronym F.I.G.H.T.:

F: Follow the Golden Rule. “There’s a bigger story in the Bible, but it’s pretty condensed in that golden rule.”

I: Instill trust. “You can’t do much without trust.”

G: Give your best. “We’ve got one life to live, and really, life is short, so make the most of it.”

H: Hold yourself and others accountable. “When I mess up, maybe I will be perfect tomorrow.”

T: Take initiative. “What needs to be done, and what can I do about that?”

“All of these are important to me.”