Stephanie’s story is one of unbelievable redemption. Her early childhood was marked by severe abuse and spiritual darkness. Taken to a satanic coven, Stephanie witnessed things most people only read about in books. When she could get away, she would hide in her room and play any instrument she could find. She started writing songs at the age of 5 with a little plastic guitar. Later she would teach herself to play the piano and the saxophone as well. 

She was taken out of her home in Michigan many times to live with other relatives, but she didn’t leave home for good until the age of 12. Stephanie’s older sister took her across the country to live with her in Arizona and she never returned home. On the outside everything seemed okay. She had a new home, a new Christian school and new friends, but on the inside the trauma of her past was just under the surface. “When I was at school I tried to be happy, but I couldn’t shake the dark, foreboding feelings that would overtake me. I was drawn toward anything that would numb the emptiness I felt on the inside. Darkness was familiar, so I plunged deep into a world of drugs, alcohol and so called pleasure.” 

Stephanie found herself, at 19 years old, dancing & singing at a casino in South Africa. “I was so unhappy, but I didn’t stop long enough to hear my soul crying out. Then one day I ran into someone who had so much Jesus radiating from her spirit that I couldn’t help but notice. She didn’t need drugs, or thrill seeking, or anything that I had to have to be okay. She had this amazing joy and peace and I knew it was real and I wanted what she had. 

I started to seek God. As I read the Bible I could feel a huge struggle in my soul. The night of August 25th 1985, it all came to a head. I was alone in my room and the battle became so intense that I started holding my head as if it were going to split open. I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit saying, ‘Stephanie come to me, I love you’. I also heard another voice calling me, and I knew it was Satan. For hours I couldn’t choose. I just held my head and felt the battle raging around me. Finally at 4 o’clock in the morning, I turned toward the voice of the Sprit and said, ‘Jesus, I choose you’.”

Stephanie started writing Christian music and her talents landed her a record deal at Star Song Records with Brian Tankersley as producer. However, before the Ink was even dry on the papers, she was forced to make a choice.  “I had such uneasiness in my spirit, and a weight on my chest that felt like 100 pounds. I felt like God was calling me to come away with Him and deal with my heart. If I ran forward I felt like I’d be leaving Him behind. After seeking God I had to make a very hard phone call. I called Brian Tankersley and told him I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t go through with the record deal.”

The process of sanctification began. God started a huge excavation process on her heart. He began digging up lies, and plowing up belief systems. He showed her that her heart was divided and that He needed to go into the dark places and bring truth and light where pain and sorrow had been. The process seemed insurmountable at times. The sheer magnitude of the trauma and memories made her want to run or give up. But little by little God began to reveal Himself to each part of her heart. Through the pain He brought joy, through the suffering, character, and through hope in Christ, restoration. 

Stephanie’s album “Come Be With Me” is an expression of a deep walk with God and a glimpse into what God has revealed to her during her journey.

“I hope through my CD you’ll find hope, no matter where you’ve come from or where you’ve been. He truly is the redeemer!”  - Stephanie