Letter to the Editor

Brother Stephen responds

To the Editor:

Dear Penn friends, thank you for the prayers and kind e-mails I have received since June.

I'd like to make a few comments about your article ("'Brother Stephen' convicted of soliciting sex," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 01/16/04), the reaction of some students, and then give you an update on my new parish experiences.

During this major "trial" in my life, I'm so grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ for blessing me with such a wonderful wife, three adorable children, a very supportive family and scores of faithful and Godly friends! I am also thankful for all the students at Temple and Penn who are in "my corner."

I sense, by reading your article, that there are some Penn students who are delighted about the new "trial" the Lord has put into my life. Without a doubt, the most delighted creature is our own enemy Satan!

He is so pleased that thousands of college students in the Philadelphia area will not hear the glorious Gospel of Jesus (unless some Christians get some Holy Ghost boldness and pick up the slack until I return).

Satan is also pleased that all the students guilty of breaking God's laws won't be reminded of their "awesome DAY in court" before the Holy Judge Jesus.

I genuinely hope and pray that all the students at Penn will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord before they stand before Him one day.

The devil is also delighted that over 100 children and youth living near Temple University will not be hearing the Word of God nor the challenge to follow Jesus and say "NO" to sin.

Now some comments about the article concerning my presence on Penn's campus. I can't believe the hatred and intolerance I sensed by the comments from various students! Didn't you students say, "Do not judge"? Then why are you judging me? Talk about hypocrites!

Everything that I have ever preached at Penn was motivated by a genuine love for each student and for the glory of God. I have never hoped to see a Jewish student go to the lake of fire. No! A thousand times no! My desire is to challenge them to search the claims of Jesus and receive Him as the Messiah.

I debate Islam versus Christianity not out of hate but out of love that the Muslim community would recognize that Jesus was in fact the son of God. If Jesus wasn't the son of God, whose son was He? The Quran states that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born (Surah 19).

My new parish is not so much different from the many students I encounter at Penn. The Lord put me in a cell with a blasphemer. I ask that the students who miss hearing "whore" shouted across campus to pray for me. I have heard "The Virgin Mary was a whore" many times from my roommate in the past 10 days.

One guy in my new parish is a Temple University graduate. I asked him if he ever heard preachers at Temple. He replied, "I thought you looked familiar!" Two men have asked me to lead a Bible study. I've had the privilege of attending one to two Bible studies a day since arriving here. Many have already initiated Bible questions for me to answer.

Keep praying for me as I pray for you.

Trusting the Lord,

Brother Stephen

P.S. I am not guilty!

Rev. Craig White is currently serving a term in Chester County Prison.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.