Bio

Steve Cornell                                  (At our daughter’s wedding)

I grew up in and around a major metropolitan city (Philadelphia). As a result, I experienced lots of diversity in people. Even though cities are often geographically sectarian, they are also very diverse. I am very glad that I experienced diversity. I am sure it also helped me that my parents never treated people differently based on race or lifestyle. My father taught me to be as comfortable in the presence of a Senator or a Judge as I am with any other person. While giving honor to whom honor is due, I simply don’t rate or rank people based on these kinds of outward distinctions. Of course, this should be my outlook as a follower of Jesus Christ, but I am thankful it was also part of my upbringing.  

After two years in youth ministry in the greater Philadelphia area, I became the founding and senior pastor of Millersville Bible Church, Millersville, Pennsylvania (USA) (a position I’ve had for more than 27 years). Ministry for me includes the normal stuff pastors do as well as a few extras. For many years, I’ve produced daily and weekend radio features (Focus on the Church and Take 5 with Pastor Steve). I’ve also been a correspondent for Lancaster Newspapers Inc. writing a monthly column for many years. These columns also appear in The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Although I never set out to be a writer, I’ve been an honored recipient of six writing awards from the Amy Foundation. I especially enjoy ministry among students from the State University in Millersville. I’ve received ministry education from Philadelphia College of the Bible, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Former eastern division in Lancaster, Pennsylvania), and Biblical Theological Seminary and some great mentors. My wife Becky and I have four adult children, a wonderful daughter-n-law and a great son-n-law. Although I feel far too young, we will soon be grandparents!  Our daughter is expecting a daughter (May 2012) and our daughter-in-law, a son (September 2012). 

παντα δε ποιω δια το ευαγγελιον

Books: (available through our office 717-872-4260)

• Understanding and Doing the Will of God
• When Christians Disagree: Handling debatable matters
• Disciple Making Manual
• Learning to Forgive
• Meeting God in His Word (Two month devotional)

Audio series:

• Marriage as God designed it
• The Power of encouragement in your Marriage
• Sobering Look at the Character and Strategy of Satan (as heard on Back to the Bible)
• Spirit filled life
• Forgiveness and Reconciliation

To contact Steve for conference ministry: s.cornell@millersvillebiblechurch.org

Favorite quotes:

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important” (C. S. Lewis).

“One of the great attractions of Christianity to me is its sheer absurdity” (Malcolm Muggeridge).

“If only there were evil people somewhere, insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn)

“If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all of our efforts in the long run are hopeless”  (C.S. Lewis).

“God is good but God is not safe. God is good and terrifying at the same time” (C. S. Lewis).

“Atheism is the most daring of all dogmas, for it is the assertion of a universal negative” (G.K. Chesterton)

“I have taken my good deeds and bad deeds and thrown them together in a heap, and fled from them both to Christ, and in him I have peace.” (David Dickson)

“After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again.” (C. S. Lewis).