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Someone recently asked me at the café, “Pastor Steve, do you believe in angels?”

I told him yes—that’s what the Bible says. In Hebrews 13:2 it says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

I have personally had a couple of occasions where I believe this to be true—so vivid they have stayed with me all my life.

The first time was actually twice in a three-day window, way back when I was 24 years old in the Navy, in Greece. I had given my life to Jesus just a couple of months earlier at a Bible study on our ship, the USS Jack Williams. People who visit our church or outreaches hear me talk about that moment often—the encounter we had back then.

I initially chose that ship because, as a drunken sailor, it sounded like Jack Daniels, so I thought to myself that would be a neat one. Little did I know the Holy Ghost encounters I would begin having—and many others on that ship as well—during our six-month deployment to the Mediterranean. Although, as you will read, I only did about four months on that one.

A couple of days before our ship pulled into Athens, while in prayer, the Lord spoke out of my heart prophetically—bypassing my mind—to preach His Word. I was so excited I ran into the officers’ area to look for the chaplain and tell him. Now, he did not understand too much about the Holy Ghost encounters we were having, but even he agreed there was a calling on my life.

I left that room, and it just so happened that a yeoman on the ship—the same one who had shown me in the Bible about salvation—was walking by. He said, “There you are, young man. You have to decide if you are going to reenlist in the Navy or get out. I have to prepare your discharge papers.”

My ship was also changing home ports to Pascagoula, Mississippi. Where I grew up. Longer story, but I wanted to be stationed there. So now I had choices to make—especially after the Lord had just called me into ministry.

There I was. Friends in the Lord were going off the ship to tour Athens and hang out, but I chose to go off by myself. What do I do?

I found myself walking through a neighborhood in Greece, pondering, talking to God under my breath. I said these words, “God, what do I do? Do I stay in and maybe become a chaplain? Do I go back to Mississippi? Or do I go back to Florida, get out of the Navy, and stay there?”

As soon as I said that, a car drove by with a Florida license plate.

Talk about goosebumps. I thought, “That’s God, real close.” Then I brushed it off. I thought, “Nah… strange.” I didn’t know about Hebrews and angels yet.

A couple of days later, I left the ship again, still wrestling with what to do. I went up to the Acropolis, where the Apostle Paul once walked and witnessed to the Greeks in Acts 17—Mars Hill. I spent time in prayer with the Lord as the sun set. It was amazing—the Holy presence of God, tears falling down my face.

In that moment, I knew. God was calling me to Florida.

I purposed in my heart right then—that is what I am going to do. I just had to tell my mom. I was a momma’s boy.

I went down the hill and found a man who owned a souvenir shop. He let me use his phone—he had a little cot behind a curtain. I called my mom collect back in Mississippi and told her everything—that I had become a Christian and that God was calling me out of the Navy to go preach.

For the next couple of minutes, all I heard was an upset mother. I joke sometimes and say I thought she was going to send me a straight jacket. But in that moment, I gently told Mom goodbye and hung up the phone.

As I took those next few steps walking out of that shop, I told the Lord, “God, I am going to go by faith and do what You called me to do.”

As I exited the shop, I looked up—and to my amazement, right there on the curb outside was a car with a Florida license tag.

Confirmation, I believe now.

Back then, I was scared—God felt too close. Goosebumps. I even thought, “God, why not call a gunner’s mate, a tough guy for this or something? I’m just a cook.” I wondered, “Does this kind of thing happen all the time?”

I came from a little country Methodist church. I don’t recall this happening to anyone there.

So now, looking back, I believe it might have been angels—both times.

A couple of months later, I flew out of Egypt back to the USA. I thought I was going to Bible college, but little did I know I spiritually—and literally—left Egypt for a different kind of boot camp: a wilderness. About 20 years of it.

But nonetheless, yes—angels are ministering spirits sent to help us fulfill our calling and purpose.

Through the years, we have fed tens of thousands of meals, seen countless people give their lives to Christ, witnessed demons cast out, people physically healed, and even now we are housing people in our discipleship homes.

Looking back, initially unaware, it was probably angels—under the direction of God—placing things in our path to help guide us along His purpose.

Maybe you are not a believer and you are reading this. More important than angels is Jesus Christ and the gift He has for those who turn to Him.

He loves you—so, so much—and desires a relationship with you, not religion.

Pray today. Say:

“Lord, forgive me. Come into my life. I believe.”

If you prayed that prayer, reach out. We would love to talk with you and walk with you on this journey.

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