Our lives have many intersections – we sometimes meet the same person at different stages of our lives. I don’t believe that these intersections are coincidental. Such are the times that I met Steve Bell before I came to work for him 3 ½ years ago.
Steve must have been 16 or 17 the first time we met, although he would never remember me. He was singing at various coffeehouses in Southern Manitoba, and I was in a worship band that opened for a couple of his concerts.
The second time I was when I was a young mother and a fledgling freelance artist working at home. Someone recommended to Steve that I do a poster for him, and he visited my house to give me the job. He didn’t have any money to pay me, so he promised me a couple of CDs. He must have not really liked my poster, for I never saw those promised CDs….(Ha! I have the whole collection now!)
The next time I met him was ten albums later when my church hosted a concert for the Sons and Daughters Tour. I was working in the church office then, and helped promote the concert. I did this again for an Advent concert at my church in 2002. A few days before that Advent Concert, my first husband died suddenly and I was not able to attend the concert due to funeral preparations. When Steve heard about my loss, he and Dave put together a few CDs as a condolence gift for me. One of them was Solace for Seasons of Suffering. I can’t tell you how much that gift touched and encouraged me. At the funeral I used one of my favourites, Unto the Least of These (from Simple Songs). Little did I know at the time, one day I would work at Signpost Music. Steve and Dave and everyone else I’ve worked with are examples of God’s love in their tenacity, kindness and generosity. It is amazing how Steve’s ministry has touched so many people’s lives.
Greg Leith (a friend of Steve’s) wrote this description of him in a Facebook comment: “Truly you ARE a minister, theologian, musician, storyteller and poet all wrapped up into one person….many are just one of these, you are a beautiful synthesis that God has gifted for this generation. You bring us to the foot of the cross and touch our souls.”
Pictured is my most recent painting. It is not only the joining of “Many Hands”, but the intersection of many lives that touch and bless each other – much like the lives that are touched through Steve’s music and stories.
If you have special stories about how you have encountered Steve and his music over the years, we welcome you to write about it in the comment section below.
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Posted on June 24th
Faye,
It was good to discover your own art. I really like the oils. On Tuesday night we had some good friends over who are back on furlough from Liberia ( Equip Libera). I showed David Waines some of your work, the 2 paintings of African hands were meanigful as this has been his journey. In that area of the world it really is the hands of the village coming together. I also have funny story of a promise made by Steve the first time I met him in Dauphin MA – maybe another time
Keep up the good art!
Michael Hart
Posted on June 23rd
It was around 2002 or 2003 that a bunch of fired up Chicago Christians in their 80′s invited my wife Darnell and I to a Bill Gaither Homecoming in Indianapolis, IN. I had never been to a Gaither event before and was pleasantly surprised to find that Bill actually picks talented individuals from around the country to perform at his events. The best surprise of that evening was Steve Bell. We were sitting in the nose bleed section or as the usher said “closest to God” of a pretty large crowd of maybe 25,000 or so. I could see this guy way down there on the stage all by himself with a guitar and then he began to sing. It was a beautiful song about God and eagles wings. At intermission I made my way down to an area where the artists were selling their CD’s to find Steve Bell. When I got to Steve’s booth there was all of his music laid out and a note saying “Gone to the bathroom and to get something to eat. If you find something you like just leave the money and enjoy…” or something like that. I was amazed. I waited awhile for Steve to get back and then had a great conversation with him about his home in Canada, his wife and kids, and his love of singing to God and man. I have kept up with his music over the years and probably hear some Steve Bell every day. We are in Sugar Land Texas now and I would love for the folks here to meet Steve. All the best Steve from our family to you and yours.
Posted on June 17th
About 15 years ago some unknown guy from Winnipeg came to our church in Cochrane, Alberta to sing. I took my four year old daughter with me. That afternoon she had made a glow-in-the-dark bracelet and she wanted to give it to him. So we went to the concert, which was attended by 30 people at the most. A slim young man walked up to the front with his guitar and sat on a stool all alone. As soon as he began to sing, play and tell his delightful stories, we were entranced. At intermission we met him in the lobby and she told him she had made him a bracelet. Thankfully he smiled and put it on right away. When he went back to sing he told the crowd that he would now never get lost, as Robena had given him a glow-in-the-dark bracelet. She was over the moon. I now own every CD Steve has ever recorded and his songs always minister to me. Thanks Steve!
Posted on June 13th
I have absolutely no clear recollection of how I met Steve. I surmise it must have proceeded without incident. Perhaps Steve recalls?
Posted on June 11th
First enjoyed Steve solo in Kelowna at Trinity Baptist Church, the cavernous one! His sweet sound and gentle humour more than filled the space.
When Steve spent his birthday with the very first Winnipeg Symphony orchestra performance, I was there, I flew from Kelowna. At the end of the concert I found a glowing Steve emerging from backstage, carrying a bag of gifts. A perfect stranger took a picture of us and sent it to me.
Steve has peformed/celebrated at my own church in Vernon, the Alliance, thoroughly impressing a mostly new group of folks ( as compared to those of us who know all the words to all the songs and unashamedly in good voices sing along!!) I took my photo from the Symphony event in Winnipeg and we had another one taken, in which I held up the picture of our first meeting. You might say I am a fan. Take good care Steve, We need you.
Just got back from 18 days away, I found I missed my Steve CD’s. I am used to them being a part of my life, and I sort of wilted without them, stuck with car radio from Winnipeg back to Vernon.
Leila
Posted on June 9th
I had a liver transplant in October 2000 at the Mayo Clinic. I first met Steve in February 1997 and then a couple times after that prior to the transplant. When I let Steve and Dave know that I had hit “critical” and was waiting for the call that a liver was available, they sent me a pre-release of the album “Simple Songs.” 8 days after going “cricical” a liver became available and we flew to MN, “Simple Songs” with me. A couple days after the transplant, I developed a fever. I was freezing cold and then cycled over to blazing hot. I watched every minute of that night tick by on the clock across from my bed. What gave me comfort was “God our Protector.” How many times I listened to and prayed and sang that song that night I do not know, but I clung to those words as I felt I was clinging to life. At 5:30 a.m. the fever broke I was OK and continue to be better than OK! But I have never forgotten that night or that song that was such a Godsend that night.
Posted on June 9th
Just after posting here previously, my son Curtis’ band “Terminal Outcome” were practicing in our basement. The vocalist (lovely guy with spikes for earrings, blue hair etc.) noticed a Steve Bell photo from one of his symphony concerts and Curtis said he exclaimed “Heh, you guys know Steve Bell! he is, like, the best. He’s awesome.” Very cool.
Posted on June 9th
Hi Faye, thanks for taking over for Steve for the time being.
And I see we will be blessed with a performance this coming September, and again in April of 2011!.
Your painting is lovely. Is there a way one can purchase same?
Best wishes,
Fran
Posted on June 9th
It was 1983 and I was a brand new Christian, still finding my feet as a believer and working days at a restaurant in the Marion Hotel. The pub band came in for lunch one day (actually they came in with bag lunches and ordered water) and were engaged in deep pub band discussion when I heard one of the members say something that almost made me drop my tray. He said ‘You need to know that the band is not the main focus of my life. First comes my God, my church and my family. The band has to fit in after that.” I found out that it was Steve Bell, of Elias, Shritt and Bell fame, and was so encouraged by his confident assertion of faith and priorities to all these cool musician types. I didn’t see him again until 10 years later when he was doing one of his first Victoria concerts in the basement of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Once again I was mighty encouraged and have been at every concert since. I almost didn’t go to his latest concert at the Christchurch Cathedral, feeling that I’d seen him so often that it would be same old, same old- but no, there were new stories, new insights, new encouragements. I am glad I went. Thanks for sharing your gift of encouragement for all these years.
Posted on June 8th
I first meet Steve in 1967 when his dad Alf was pastor at the church in Drumheller. We hung out some and also sang in the junior chior that was led by Miss. Artindale.Then he moved and I lost track of him. We meet in later years when he came back to Drum to do a consertat the church and also at Rosebud in the coffie house there. Since then my wife and I have bought some of his CD’s that we enjoy ever much Keep up the good work and let your arm heal.
Posted on June 8th
I have a story about how my 16 year old son met Steve just a little over a week ago in Nanaimo BC. Steve did a concert as part of a fundraiser for Nanimo Christian school at which the school jazz band opened for him.
After their performance the kids met Steve backstage as he was getting ready to go on. My son(Jord) is the guitar player so Steve took an interest in his instrument and they chatted briefly. To be honest Jord had never really listened to any Steve Bell music and when it was announced that they would open for him at the Port Theatre he was more excited about the venue than the headliner.
After the concert, which I think was the best Steve Bell concert I’ve ever been to, my son the skeptic was totally converted .
There is a bit of irony here in that Steve told a story about how he was first introduced to Bruce Cockburn at a concert he really wasn’t thrilled about going to, and how he found Cockburns music too outside the box for a Christian who was used to things a little more cut and dried. That night he was changed and he credits it with a shift in his thinking from that point on. In this same way my young skeptic discovered throgh Steve’s music and stories, that Christian Musicians can be outside the box and not just cut and dried . Steve Bell caused Jordy to see things differently both spiritually and musically.
As a matter of fact there were many young people there that night , many from my church , that did not know Steve but were profoundly impacted by his ministry.
My meeting with Steve came a few nights later when my Wife and I drove up to Comox to see the last Steve Bell concert of his tour . We hung around after the show and I was Able to tell him this story. I hope it blessed him as much as he blessed all of us.
Posted on June 8th
Faye, any chance I could purchase a print of “Many Hands”?
Posted on June 8th
My first encounter with Steve about 15 years ago was absolutely profound – and the first step back into being able to walk hand in hand with God after a long period of absolute isolation. I attended Steve’s concert at our church because my best friend there had organized it and my Mom was going alone and begged for my company. I did not want to go. In my memory the minute Steve started singing it was as if Steve and I were the only ones in that sanctuary. I can remember thinking that if the lady beside me grabbed my hand one more time I was going to bean her. It was as if God brought Steve to Edmonton simply to say “here I am” just to me. Needless to say it started a great love affair with everything “Steve”. My husband teases he is going to get me a T-Shirt that says “My wife loves Steve Bell, and I’m OK with it!”. There seems to be a real theme to Steve’s ministry reaching those who are going through times of drastic suffering, and thankfully, he has never lost sight that he is the gift, not the giver. My husband feels Steve has a unique gift in feeding the sheep – those of us already in the flock but needing sustanence.
Posted on June 8th
Faye, thanks for sharing the gift that you are and have…beautiful.