Written by Nancy Hayes
“If I am to be effective, which I believe I am, we must always see the hurting human in front of us and compassionately, sensitively, truthfully confront that person with the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.”
These are the honest and sincere words of Reverend Stephen Lee, also known as America’s Pastor.
Recently, Reverend Lee was indicted in Georgia for so-called election interference, along with 18 others, including former president Donald Trump. The state alleges Lee and others
“unlawfully conspired and endeavored to conduct and participate in a criminal enterprise in Fulton County, Georgia, and elsewhere.”
First, we all know why the Georgia state administration is using the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act as a basis for these charges. The statute of limitations for RICO is 5 years; for a felony, 2 years. They can’t use any felony charges against America’s Pastor or the other 18 individuals, because that statute of limitations has expired.
Do they believe that the average American doesn’t see through this?
Second, it’s interesting to note in our first 110 years as a Republic, only three cases for religious liberty went in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the last nine years, there have been an astounding 14 cases before the Court in which our “first freedoms,” guaranteed in the First Amendment, have been under attack.
One could argue that the attacks on our freedoms of religion and speech began to increase when Barack Obama was elected president. Has any other president in the 21st Century attacked our freedoms or the U.S. Constitution more than him, especially once Obamacare was rolled out?
Probably not, at least until Biden’s current abusive administration, which many call “Obama 2.0.”
The Bill of Rights provides each citizen with express protection against exercises of federal power that infringe on rights like freedom of speech and religious liberty.
Our founders were clear on the need for tight reins on the state. For example, in Federalist Paper 51, James Madison reasoned,
“If men were angels, no Government would be necessary…in framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
Getting back to the case of America’s Pastor: to understand Reverend Lee, one must first understand the man and his journey.
It is one of deep faith and a lifelong commitment to the number one peace officer himself, Jesus Christ.
Reverend Lee’s story begins on October 25, 1952, in Northern California. Stephen Lee was raised by two loving, Christian parents who had both endured the Great Depression. His mom survived an accidental gun incident in the 1930s without penicillin. She was tough; a survivor. But she was a kind, sweet, and loving soul with a beautiful smile.
Stephen’s dad survived a blunt head injury as a teenager from a beating he took from four robbers with a wrench while working at his uncle’s gas station. He wasn’t found until the next day. He was another survivor, like Stephen’s mom. A machinist with a strong work ethic, his dad was also a WWII Navy veteran.
Overall, Stephen’s parents were hardworking, humble, and loving Christians. Growing up, Stephen was raised in an authentic, God-fearing home. He attended a Christian school where he received an excellent education and learned the Scripture. He enjoyed singing in church and learning about Jesus.
As a young boy, Stephen emulated Tom Sawyer, enjoying hunting, fishing, exploring, and learning how to drive an old pickup truck at the young age of 12. He also loved to read. He was, as many of us would say today, “self-educated” in many ways.
In high school, Stephen was involved in a Vacation Bible School summer outreach program in San Francisco. He learned to know and love Jesus, especially through his experiences of seeing sin and evil in the world around him. He became passionate about the truth that people need the Lord, himself included. His faith was his firm foundation.
Shortly after high school, Stephen took a law enforcement course. What followed was the start of a law enforcement career. In 1973, he was sworn in at Menlo Park, California Police Department, at the young age of 21. Lee would go on to achieve his B.A. in Psychology in 1976 and continue his law enforcement career. He became a sergeant in Mendocino County and shortly thereafter a NIS (NCIS) Special Agent.
Even as Lee pursued a career in law enforcement, he felt a call to ministry and the preaching of the gospel. Remember his words:
“If I am to be effective, which I believe I am, we must always see the hurting human in front of us and compassionately, sensitively, truthfully confront that person with the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.”
In 1988 he enrolled as a full-time seminary student. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana in 1992. From there began his continuing story as an ordained minister and “America’s Chaplain,” helping others in crisis. In 1993, he became the Chaplain for the Colorado Springs Police Department.
In 1996, Stephen founded “Peace Officers Ministries” (POM). It was a nonprofit, 501c3 law enforcement chaplaincy. He developed training materials and consulted not only law enforcement but also provided spiritual care for agencies, churches, organizations, and individuals worldwide. These organizations included the FBI, NYPD, FDNY, the governments of Nicaragua, Haiti, and Samoa, Focus on the Family, and Promise Keepers.
Reverend Lee authored a book entitled God’s Word for Peace Officers and distributed over 35,000 Bibles to officers in the field. In addition, he wrote Backup on the Beat and distributed 10,000 copies of this version of the Bible to individuals in law enforcement. Reverend Lee was truly becoming America’s Pastor.
In 1999, Lee was on the scene at the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, a tragedy that to this day remains a “black hole” for him. He was the lead AFT chaplain who helped evacuate students and teachers, assisted first responders, carried dead victims, and provided special pastoral care to not only officers but also families and students. There were 13 killed and 23 injured that day; the worst school shooting in the U.S. until the April 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, where 32 people were shot and several more injured. Rev. Lee was there, too providing pastoral support.
America’s Chaplain was at the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001, supporting law enforcement agents and first responders throughout the horrifying terrorist attack and aftermath, where over 3,000 lives were lost, including over 300 NYFD and 70 NYPD. Pastor Lee was there as a Ground Zero chaplain when the ‘cross’ represented by two beams from Building 6 was discovered.
He supported the cross remaining at the WTC Memorial and even wrote these words on the cross, which remain at the Ground Zero Cross Memorial:
From “God’s House” –
Fired new from dying flame,
This living sign remains,
Arms outstretched,
Embracing yet,
Our avalanche of pain,
To still, to fill –
To heal again.
Building 6 became a shrine. Recovery workers called it “God’s House”, and regularly went inside to view the cross facing them from the rubble.
A reflection from Pastor Lee:
“Even more powerful than the picture of evil at Ground Zero – is the obvious grace of God working through the hands of the recovery workers – chaplains and churches.”
America’s Pastor was there for the California fires, Florida and Louisiana hurricane disasters, and the American Samoa tsunami, where he helped rescue over 60 people. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he arranged for the evacuation of 100 people from St. Paul Lutheran Church.
America’s Pastor was there for the shootings at the Orlando/Pulse nightclub and the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Hotel.
Again, remember his words:
“If I am to be effective, which I believe I am, we must always see the hurting human in front of us and compassionately, sensitively, truthfully confront that person with the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.”
America’s Pastor has become known for being there in a time of need in not only the United States but also around the world. Rev. Lee helped create the Quick Response Team – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (HTLC).
Who is America’s Pastor, Reverend Lee? He is a man born for such a time as this.
His life’s journey has prepared him for the trials and tribulations he has already endured and those yet to come. He’s a distinguished graduate with a federal law enforcement background and training in NIS Foreign Counterintelligence. He’s FEMA-certified. He’s received many letters of appreciation, including from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/Samaritan’s Purse, Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family, former NYPD and ATF officers, and others, including former president George W. Bush.
Pastor Lee is an ordained Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastor serving Living Word Lutheran Church in Orland Park, Illinois. He practices a biblically based, Christ-centered life and ministry, and supports ministry and mission to all cultures, ages, and conditions.
In the incident in question in his Georgian indictment, America’s Chaplain went to someone’s door to offer his services as a pastor of faith. He knocked on her door. When there was no answer, he knocked on the neighbor’s door. He made a phone call. If you consider Reverend Lee’s history and background in law enforcement, as well as his pastoral experience, helping individuals under stress is not out of character for him.
This is a pastor who has gone where the need is the greatest.
Lee’s attorney, David Shestokas has rightly summed up what’s at stake right now:
“If this case in Georgia is successful and criminalizes election contests, providing legal advice, lobbying legislatures, free speech, freedom of religion, or even offering pastoral services—the basic underpinnings organizing society will be severely damaged.”
Even in the face of this current trial, Reverend Lee maintains a spirit of peace and unshakable trust in God’s sovereignty. In a previous quote, America’s Pastor stated:
“I love to help people in a time of need…Fundamentally, what keeps me going is my faith and a belief that a loving God cares about these things and cares about people amidst the terrible things that do happen. Because we live in a flawed world, we can ask all sorts of existential questions about ‘why’ and all of that but at the end of the day that doesn’t help, what really helps is to roll up your sleeves and get in there and help people, and see how God gets in there to help people too.”
The fight for religious liberty and speech goes on.
If you wish to donate to Rev. Stephen Lee’s legal fund, please donate today!
Nancy Hayes is a Christian wife, mother and educator on election integrity for several grassroots organizations across Illinois. She is also a Deputy Committeeman at Lemont Township Republican Organization and a Board Member at United Southland Republican Women-Chgo SW Suburbs.
For more info, please listen to this week’s IFA podcast featuring Pastor Lee and his attorney David Shestokas!
