Here’s more of our inspiring interview with Pastor Bridge Steib of The Ministry of Love of Baton Rouge:
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: As a female, have you encountered any negativity and if so, how have you overcome that?
PASTOR BRIDGET STEIB: I have been walking with the Lord since the age of six years old. God taught me how to know Him on a personal level. Therefore, I have acquired a personal accountability with God for myself. As with any walk in life, negative situations try to rise up; but, early in life, I learned with any negative situation you can turn it into a positive simply by responding positive. Sure there were instances of negative situations regarding me as a woman in the ministry, but I heard the Lord ask me one day, “Bridget, what tells on you, but doesn’t talk?” I humorously said, “I don’t know Lord, what tells on you, but doesn’t talk?” The Lord responded, “Time. Time will tell them everything they need to know about you.” I continued to walk in the love of God. I walked in God’s unconditional love, even with those who ridiculed me; love overcame every negative word. This love has been tested and proven. That’s why I continue strongly in the faith. God taught me how to love others with His love.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell us about your ministry in particular.
PASTOR BRIDGET STEIB: The ministry started out as a Bible Study that met every Wednesday in my den. God told me to look for a building to start a ministry. God gave me two scriptures to stand on: Nehemiah 6:3 “And I sent messengers unto them saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” and Psalms 127:1, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wake but in vain.” I did not have a name nor did I have the funds, but I knew the voice of God. Stepping out on faith, I called the group together and began to share the vision and money began to come in from everywhere. God blessed the ministry in a mighty way. God also named the ministry, “The Ministry of Love.” The ministry is the character of the individual. God astoundingly proclaimed to me, “that’s my ministry, you are my servant, those are my people and everything I do, is for my glory.” The ministry started out with twenty members in May 1994 and today that number has greatly increased. In starting the ministry, I walked out on nothing and landed on something. The ministry also consists of the Brotherhood Ministry, Prison Ministry, Youth and Children Ministry, Prayerline Ministry, Music Ministry, Giving back Ministry, M.E.A.D. Ministry, Women of Confidence Conference Tour and many more. God has given the increase through the addition of businesses such as the Ministry of Love Daycare and Learning Academy and MOLSOM (Ministry of School of Ministry). There are additional businesses to follow. God built the Ministry of Love on faith, love, prayer and the Word. Our ultimate focus is winning souls for Christ, building and populating the kingdom of God. Recognizing and realizing that the only Jesus, some people may see, is the Jesus in us.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: We understand your church does a vehicle giveaway each year. That is really great – tell us about that.
PASTOR BRIDGET STEIB: The vehicle giveaway is done through the program called M.E.A.D. (Motivating Excellence Academics and Divinity). M.E.A.D. is designed to motivate students to accelerate in excellence not only in academics (education) but also in the area of divinity (biblical knowledge and application principles). M.E.A.D. seeks to find the exceptional student whose focus is aimed toward a positive future for the betterment of their environment. As an organization we recognize the obstacles faced daily across our city, state and nation; however we know that through prayer, a strong Christian background, positive leadership and mentorship, and education, along with the urgency to successfully achieve, through various opportunity our students can achieve their greatest desires. For approximately eight years prior to the inception of M.E.A.D., other projects similar to M.E.A.D. have been initiated and implemented which resulted in launching opportunities for this dynamic educational program to be birthed. The M.E.A.D. program was in the design process for an estimated five years. During this period of time, evaluations and studies were completed along with many observations within our communities. As a pilot program for other educational programs of this organization, we expect this program to be successful on the basis of encouraging students to strive for excellence in every area of their life. Now, we recognize for some students, all they need to strive for excellence is encouragement; in addition to inner strength and a helping hand. The M.E.A.D. organization is here to do just that. For the graduating high school seniors and their families, there could be an insurmountable measure of financial pressure toward the advancement of the student’s academic future. It has been our observation that many exceptional students, through the aide of scholarships and government financial aide programs can accumulate the finances necessary to attend college. However, M.E.A.D. has the answer to the underlying questions of many parents today. “How can I afford to transport my child to college every day? I want to reward my child for their hard work and efforts they have achieved, but I simply can’t afford it.” The M.E.A.D. program, which is sponsored through The Ministry of Love of Baton Rouge, Inc., target schools throughout the local and surrounding parishes to be a blessing to that exceptional student. The process is simple and easy to complete. Based upon meeting certain criteria and timely completion of the required application process, a child can be the recipient of a new all expense paid economy vehicle. This automobile blessing is awarded to this student based upon the predetermined criteria selection, but also with the contingency that the student continues their education at an accredited two or four-year college or university. Previous recipients include:
2008 – Jabril Muhammad (Capitol Pre-College for Boys); Education Major- Southern University;
2009 – Chasity Strowder ( Belaire High School); Pharmacy Major – Louisiana State University
2010 – Rondreka Pitts (Istrouma High School); Mathematics Major- Nicholls State University
For the 2011-2012 school year, a graduating senior in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, who meet the necessary criteria, will have an opportunity to be the recipient of an economy car or scholarship funds toward their education. M.E.A.D.’s Motto is “Help Make a Child’s Dream Come True.” Often, we refer to the children as “Driving their Road to Success.” M.E.A.D. is an outstanding program with the framework of motivation toward a brighter and promising future.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: We live in a very harsh world. How do we make the world around us a better place & still navigate in a positive manner, through that thing called “life”?
PASTOR BRIDGET STEIB: One thing people must recognize and act upon is that they frame their own world by the words they speak. If a person constantly speaks negative words, then negativity will fringe in on their world. But I encourage many people to begin speaking positive, faith-filled words and watch their world change. Sure life may deal a set of cards that no one wishes to play, but to every card dealt, there is a strategy to the playing of the card. The key is, the player has to know when to play the card. You can take the same card that was meant to cause you to lose and play that same card and win the game. Every individual can grasp this wisdom and create a life full of joy, peace, health, wealth and a full supply of blessings in their life. Positive speaking and thinking, mixed with the Word of God, will surely bring about a positive outlook on life. Erase the words, “I can’t” from every thought and vocabulary and begin saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” For every obstacle, know that opportunity for positiveness is waiting to come on the scene. It’s the response to the potential obstacle that determines the opportunity. Your world is all in how you see it and how you respond to the things around you. Get a new prospective and outlook on things and begin to see you and your world as God sees you! When people grasp the reality that in spite of what’s going on around them, they need to keep moving in the direction that God has intended for them.
Make sure to check our Parts 1 & 3 of our interview with Pastor Steib:
Part 1:
Part 3:
