“You never know when the seeds planted years ago will sprout.” Counties Evangelist Steve Cowles reflects on sharing the Gospel with two retired police officers who remembered him.
STEVE AND DEBBIE COWLES
We are Steve & Debbie Cowles. I grew up in the Arizona desert and my wife Debbie is from a farm in Kansas. We have been married and in full-time ministry since 1986. We have lived in Texas, Germany, Guatemala, and Central America, where I did construction work for Wycliffe Bible Translators.
We have now been in the UK for 30 years and became British citizens in November 2012. I have been the volunteer lead chaplain with Lancashire’s Constabulary since 2007. In addition to being a chaplain, I speak in schools, churches, and youth clubs and organize dads-n-lads events. My wife has a ministry for women, including an online Bible study for international women.
Steve with the police (standing left).
STEVE’S STORY
You never know when the seeds planted years ago are going to sprout. That has become a powerful thought to me as the last few weeks as two ex-police officers, who I have been involved with, have contacted me out of the blue. One Sergeant called me in tears and asked if I remembered her. She was at rock bottom. She’d retired with a drinking problem and health issues and did not know where to turn anymore. She was shocked when, somehow, my name popped up on her phone. But she said: “I knew I could call you and you would listen.”
That we talked for nearly an hour about how she was very open to considering what Jesus Christ had to offer her in her life and her problems and her drinking addiction. I share the Gospel with her clearly and she understood but said she needed to wait and think about it. Since then I’ve tried to meet with her and it is hasn’t worked out but she got in touch with me and said she came to her senses and has checked into an alcohol detox group and signed yourself up for some rehab. I’m hoping when she gets out she will contact me again. My last comment with her was: “I’m praying that Jesus meets you in the powerful way in rehab.” She thought that was a good idea.
I have had a lot of opportunity to speak to another officer, who retired 12 years ago, about God due to his struggle with cancer. Two weeks ago his wife contacted us and said he was in his last days of cancer in the hospice and would I come and see him. I changed my plans and got there first thing in the morning. I spent time with him while he still was awake and understood.
We talked and prayed and I read some scripture to him. He was very grateful and she was so thankful and said I brought a lot of peace to the room. She and the family were very open to what he was seeing and experiencing in a dream the night before: It was beautiful lights and a gate.
I tried to talk with him more about it but don’t know if I got through. He died in a week later. I will be attending his big funeral soon. I was encouraged because both of these people had not forgotten about the words that I’ve spoken to them over the years. And their time of need they knew they could get in touch. I felt I was able to share with them, one more time. I pray that something will happen and has happened before the officer left earth. So let’s keep planting seats we never know when they’re gonna grow.