Debra Stephens

Which famous person would play you in a movie?
Joan Cusack

What is your strongest quality?
Seeing humor in every situation

What is your biggest weakness? 
Seeing humor in every situation

What would you like to ask God when you get to heaven?
I won’t have to, I’ll have all the answers! (ok, WHY did you make the mosquito?)

What are the must-have items in your refrigerator/pantry?
Butter, I own all the Paula Deen cookbooks.

What did you want to be when you were 6 years old?
An artist

What is your favorite food/restaurant?
Ted’s/mexican

What are your hobbies/interests?
trompe L’oeil painting, gardening, crocheting, bleaching everything

What were your favorite activities as a child?
Reading, building lego houses, anything artsy, hosting the “Debra Show” in my room with my imaginary guests: Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy.

Do you play a musical instrument?
If so, what? I can play the piano but seriously need to practice. I always wanted to play the xylophone (the big one, not the Fisher Price one)!
Who first introduced you to Jesus Christ?
Many people, can’t name one specifically

Who most influenced your walk with Christ and why?
Many people. God orchestrated a diverse symphony of people to reach me.

Please tell us about your family.
Married to Clay Stephens since 1983, 4 children, Kenton 87, Sydney 89, Natalie 94 and Garrett 99.

Please tell us about your call to Central. 
My call to Central and call to ministry happened simultaneously.  My background: I had served in many capacities at Central over a period of 14 years;  Sunday School Teacher, VBS leader, Sunday School Director, VBS Director, Women’s Ministry leadership, Women’s Bible Study Teacher, Kitchen help, set constructor, general flunkie.  We had been looking for a Children’s Director for 18 months when God started nudging me  that He was calling me to do this.  I fought it (yes, I’d seen that job, and didn’t want it!) for several months.  February 22, 2005 I gave up on arguing with God and submitted my resume, and on April 25, 2005 I was voted in.  I would not trade a minute of it since!  I genuinely love my job and the families I work with,  and find it a privilege to be able to do this everyday.

Please tell us about your upbringing.
I grew up in the Tulsa area and we settled in Owasso in 1971 (3rd grade).  So far I haven’t escaped.

If you couldn’t do what you are doing now, what would you do?
Run my own multi-million dollar greeting card empire like Mary Englebreit, have my own show on the Food Network and pal around with Paula Deen, own a landscaping nursery, or open a Christian tattoo parlor (I’m kidding, don’t send e-mails quoting Leviticus 19:28) but I think I’d be a pretty mean tattoo artist!

What do you love the most about your job?
Seeing people surrender to Christ and getting the honor and privilege to watch or be a small part of it. I love to go on mission trips and host VBS’s on location, and you can’t get any better than kid’s camp!  Oh yeah, and I get to play with lots of toys and nobody questions it.

Please share your salvation experience in how you came to Christ. 
I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was in third grade at an after school meeting of the “Good News Club” that met in Fleeta Sunday’s garage in Owasso.  We were not attending church at the time.  I went to church off and on throughout my school years with friends (ironically I went to Central several times).  I always knew that I should be in church, but since my family didn’t go, I didn’t go very often.  It was after I was married and had two children that God really started working on my heart that I should have my kids in church.  Through many friendships and divine appointments, the kids and I started attending Central.  Going through an “Experiencing God” class really solidified my understanding of God and my relationship with him.

I was baptized when I was 28 (I knew I was saved, but had never been baptized).   I’m now happy to say that 14 years after that, Clay made the same decision and we both now serve at Central.