After receiving her Olympic Gold Medal in Figure Skating, Peggy Fleming’s Mother told her, "Always believe in yourself – but never, ever believe your own PR." With that thought in mind, I humbly and bravely tell you about myself.

I was born in Endicott, NY, and was raised just across the Susquehanna River in Vestal, NY. I am the son of George H. and Rose Marie (Moore) Steenburg. I have a younger brother and a younger sister. I was raised, saved, baptized, and ordained in an American Baptist Church, Memorial Park Baptist Church, in Vestal. As a boy I excelled in baseball, bowling, and in playing the cornet. I was Solo Trumpet, First Chair, for the last 2 ½ years of High School. I wanted to be a professional baseball player, but only got as close as having a Detroit scout planning to come and watch me pitch. "Planning" is the key word here. He never showed up! I had a feared fast ball and a pretty good curve. Oh, well.

I was nine years old when I gave my life to Jesus and he saved me. I was baptized on Good Friday, April 08, 1955. {See John 3:16 and 5:24 and Ephesians 2:8-10}

I think I was about thirteen when the Lord revealed Himself to me in a very personal and unforgettable way. Near that same time I sensed He was calling me into Ministry. All during my teen years I was outwardly saying YES to whatever God would have me do, but inwardly I was saying NO to His call into Ministry. Then, on Sunday, December 19, 1965, I said YES, and have been seeking to say YES ever since. My calling is sure, based on Romans 10:14-17 and 11:29 and on Philippians 1:6. When I think about my slow YES to God’s call, it reminds me of this statement: “God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you. It's your choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick.”

My baptism was at Memorial Park Baptist Church, in 1955, under the Pastorate of Rev. Phil French. I gave my life to the Lord for Ministry at the same Church in 1965 under the Pastorate of Rev./Dr. Dick Schultheis. AND – I was ordained at that Church in 1972 under the Pastorate of Rev. Bob Olsen. More recently (2000f.), I returned to the Ministry and Fellowship of ABCUSA through the influence of Memorial Park's Pastor, Rev. Jim Horton and became the Pastor of “The Historic First Baptist Church Of Owego, NY” on November 1^st, 2003. My wife, Marlene, became the Pastor of Memorial Park Baptist on April 1^st of 2007. What do you think about that? J

For about 20 years my Ministry was in other Fellowships. My ministry has taken me to many and various types of churches over the years: United Methodist, Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Brethren, Pentecostal, American Baptist, Independent, Southern Baptist, Christian & Missionary Alliance, Conservative Baptist and Reformed Church of America.

I have written numerous Newspaper Articles, Tracts, Bible Studies, and Topical Outlines. One Booklet that I wrote was published by Christian Publications, "The Apostles' Creed With Scriptural Commentary." I have also published several Preaching Tapes and CD's.

My Pastoral Ministry has spanned over 25 years in various roles as Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Interim Pastor. These roles have crossed denominational lines and have been in various settings: inner-city, country, and suburbia. In addition, for almost two years while I was in Seminary, I served as a Youth Pastor.

I have served God in many ways as a Preacher of His Word outside of my Pastoral roles. I have done much Pulpit Supply, have spoken on College Campuses, have been the "Summer Preacher" at a State Park Church, and have conducted Evangelistic Crusades.

For another three years I served our Lord in a variety of Christian settings – taught Sciences in a Christian Middle and High School, was the Executive Director of an Inner-City Rescue Mission, and was on the Summer Staff of a Bible Conference Ministry.

I am a member of Rotary International and prior to my move from the Greater Philadelphia area was serving as the Chaplain of the Hatboro (PA) Rotary Club. My membership is now with the Owego Rotary Club where I am involved as a somewhat active member. I recently resigned from my membership on the ACT (Allied Christians of Tioga) Board and The Salvation Army Owego Service Unit. My role as the Facilitator of TARP – Tioga Area Recovery Partnership – came to an end with the hiring of a person to head up this effort of community recovery following the flood of 2006. I continue on the Executive Committee of the new TARP – Tioga Area Readiness Partnership. I started off the New Year of 2008 by accepting an invitation to be on the Board of The Dunneman’s Music Ministry. I am involved in two Clergy groups in Owego and function as the Coordinator of THE CHURCH OF OWEGO. We continue to press forward striving for more and more Unity, Prayerfulness, and Love amongst the Believers of Owego and all of Tioga County – with Revival being our Goal on the horizon.

My non-profit, He's Alive! Ministries, incorporated in 1979 in New Jersey, previously was a member of The Greater Willow Grove Chamber of Commerce and is now a member of The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce. I have three young adult children: Matthew, Ryan, and Angela. Both of my sons are married and Angela recently became engaged and is planning to be married in 2009.

I have a keen interest and sense of call with regards to Evangelism. I was the Evangelism Chairman for the Baptist Student Union at Texas Christian University while in college. Also, in College and in Seminary I was involved in Evangelistic Preaching Campaigns at local Churches.

In addition, the following have been of great value to me:

Billy Graham Preaching & Film Crusades and Schools of Evangelism

Open Air Campaigners

He’s Alive! Ministries

Dr. B. Sam Hart Preaching Crusades

Various Educational Venues on Evangelism

My Formal Education can be summarized as follows:

B.A., Texas Christian University, 1967

M.Div., The Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1972

Ph.D. Program in Evangelism, Trinity Theological Seminary, 1995 (enrolled)

Various Courses at The Eastern Baptist, Reformed Episcopal, and Westminster (Christian Counseling
& Educational Foundation – Counseling Courses) Seminaries

I am the Founder & President of He's Alive! Ministries – an Evangelistic & Missionary Non-Profit corporation. In recent years this Ministry has had an outreach in Ghana, Africa, and Southern India, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Russia, and in Philadelphia, PA. In earlier years, He's Alive! was also reaching out in Ministry in Camden, NJ, and in Haiti. Our only foreign outreach currently is in Southern India. Under the auspices of this non-profit, I have Preached the Gospel in the Greater Philadelphia area over AM and FM stations out of Camden and Cherry Hill, NJ, and Chester, PA, and World-Wide via Short-Wave out of Red Lion, PA, and Nashville, TN. Also, for about two years I had a Broadcast over an AM station, "Radio Paradise," out of Basseterre, St. Kitts, in the West Indies. A singular Message was broadcast locally in the Philippines while I was still in Seminary.

I believe every part of the Body has a task to carry out, a job to do, a Ministry to execute. To the degree that the Body is in-active is the degree to which it is ineffective. Every Believer MUST be involved in Ministry. I believe strongly in Missions out-reach and support – locally and world-wide. I was able to visit some of the Missionary efforts of the ABC in Central America in 1967 and my Ministries have always had a strong Missions thrust. Marlene has been on many Mission Trips – nationally and internationally – Cuba, Bolivia, Russia, etc. As long as I can remember I have had a keen interest and sense of call regarding Evangelism. I believe Evangelism is the key to building the local Church and that Discipleship is the key to bringing the Saints to Spiritual Maturity. Strong Biblical Preaching and Teaching are essential tools in accomplishing both of these. Christian Social Action in the world is also a Biblical Mandate. All this needs to be undergirded with a strong base of Prayer and Body Unity.