Steers
M E E T T H E
James and Caroline Steer are coming to join us St Andrew the Great, heading up the international work from Easter. The StAG Mag got in touch to find out a bit more about them …
When did you move to Thailand and what have you been doing there? It depends who you ask! Caroline lived for four years in Thailand whilst single and then we’ ve been there for five years since getting married. Caroline served with a student ministry in central Thailand, and after marriage we lived in a rural unreached district where we were involved in evangelism. Over the past two years, we’ ve worked in finance and different administration roles in the OMF office in Bangkok. We have enjoyed learning from the Thai staff and discipling young families at church.
What have been some of the main lessons God has been teaching you whilst in Thailand? Love for others who are different to us. Patience and humility when we don’ t understand what’ s going on. The importance of the Bible being clearly and faithfully taught, and the gospel not being assumed.
How did you become a Christian? James: I grew up in a Christian family and can’ t remember a time when I didn’ t trust Jesus as my Saviour. Having said that though, university was a really key time in helping me understand the gospel simply and clearly. Caroline: My great-uncle’ s funeral was on my 13th birthday and I read a gospel tract which convicted me of God’ s goodness and my death-deserving sin. I repented and believed the good news of Jesus’ s death and resurrection to bring me forgiveness of sins and life in Him. So my birthday is also my birth-day!
What are you most looking forward to about moving to Cambridge? Being able to settle in our new home( we’ ve been nomads for the past four months), and joining the StAG church family.
How can we best be supporting you as you move here? Please pray for us as we arrive and adjust to many changes: neither of us have ever lived in Cambridge and we’ ve been used to churches that are smaller than the StAG staff team! Please also be patient with us as we begin to get to know the church family and remember people’ s names.
What excites you most about the International work here at StAG? That God, in his goodness, might use the work among international students to grow and establish his church in Asia more deeply.
Favourite Thai food?
ผัดขิงหมู – fried ginger with pork.
Favourite Christian book? Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D. A. Carson.
Bangkok tuk-tuk or London bus? Tuk-tuk for speed; but bus for safety!