tom & mabel stevens
After years of walking with the Lord through joy, hardship, and growth,
we share our story to honor Him—and to encourage you in your own journey of faith.
we share our story to honor Him—and to encourage you in your own journey of faith.
Married at Lamoille Valley
Church of the Nazarene,
Johnson, VT
July 2, 1999
Early Years & Family Roots
Mabel was born in Butler, PA, and raised in nearby St. Petersburg as the oldest of ten children. Her spiritual formation began in two churches—her father’s Dutch Reformed background and her mother’s involvement in the Church of the Nazarene. Though life on the farm was hard and her father often absent, Mabel’s mother, June “Nellie” Fleming, provided strength and stability. A large garden and church support helped feed the family, and Nellie’s encouragement led Mabel to college with a heart for teaching.
I was born in Portland, Maine, and grew up in South Portland and Falmouth. My earliest experiences of church were through Catholic, Lutheran, and later Methodist traditions. I was the oldest of three children, and dyslexia made school a painful challenge. My mother’s disapproval over my grades left emotional wounds that followed me for years. But Scouting, debate club, and time with my father began to rebuild my confidence and direction.
I was born in Portland, Maine, and grew up in South Portland and Falmouth. My earliest experiences of church were through Catholic, Lutheran, and later Methodist traditions. I was the oldest of three children, and dyslexia made school a painful challenge. My mother’s disapproval over my grades left emotional wounds that followed me for years. But Scouting, debate club, and time with my father began to rebuild my confidence and direction.
Coming To Faith
Both Mabel and I came to know Christ in our late teen years. For Mabel, it was through the faithful ministry of her church and a special speaker. For me, it came after a breaking point with my mother and a new beginning with my father in Falmouth. He brought me to First Baptist Church in Portland, where I was welcomed and discipled.
Each of our conversions was an answer to prayer—by Mabel’s mother, my father and grandmother, and perhaps many others. We confessed our sins, received forgiveness, and became new creations in Christ. God has patiently walked with us through healing from judgmental attitudes, family pain, and the learning struggles of dyslexia. He has given us shared faith and a common joy in daily devotions and prayer.
Each of our conversions was an answer to prayer—by Mabel’s mother, my father and grandmother, and perhaps many others. We confessed our sins, received forgiveness, and became new creations in Christ. God has patiently walked with us through healing from judgmental attitudes, family pain, and the learning struggles of dyslexia. He has given us shared faith and a common joy in daily devotions and prayer.
Work, Ministry, & Marriage
After college, Mabel began teaching in Hyde Park, Vermont, working with struggling students and giving them hope and confidence. Her skill and compassion made a lasting impact. But after a difficult situation involving an unsupportive principal and a hostile parent, she felt called to teach in a Christian school. That calling led her to The Cornerstone Christian School in Manchester, CT—a ministry of Manchester Church of the Nazarene.
My path to ministry was anything but straight. Along the way, I studied at Bible school and college, worked at Manchester Memorial Hospital, and was involved in several church plants—each step shaping me in different ways. Still, my struggles with communication and discerning God’s leading contributed to the deep sorrow and disappointment of two earlier marriages, each lasting twelve years. Yet even through those difficult years, God was patiently preparing my heart for something new.
After much prayer and soul-searching, I met Mabel—first through email, then over coffee at Friendly’s. She had never married, and I had learned not to rush, and we were both 51 years old. But God made it clear: this was His leading. We were married in 1999, surrounded by pastors and friends from our churches.
I still pray for Laura and Roselle and am grateful for the ways they have shaped my journey. Laura remarried and cares for her husband Mike. Roselle is enjoying travel and has shared a home with our daughter. These earlier marriages were not unhappy or wasted years—but revealed our fears and limitations. During them I deepened my dependence on God, and refined my longing for a deeper, Christ-centered union. Mabel and I believe that God can redeem every story, especially we who are works in progress, for His glory and our good.
My path to ministry was anything but straight. Along the way, I studied at Bible school and college, worked at Manchester Memorial Hospital, and was involved in several church plants—each step shaping me in different ways. Still, my struggles with communication and discerning God’s leading contributed to the deep sorrow and disappointment of two earlier marriages, each lasting twelve years. Yet even through those difficult years, God was patiently preparing my heart for something new.
After much prayer and soul-searching, I met Mabel—first through email, then over coffee at Friendly’s. She had never married, and I had learned not to rush, and we were both 51 years old. But God made it clear: this was His leading. We were married in 1999, surrounded by pastors and friends from our churches.
I still pray for Laura and Roselle and am grateful for the ways they have shaped my journey. Laura remarried and cares for her husband Mike. Roselle is enjoying travel and has shared a home with our daughter. These earlier marriages were not unhappy or wasted years—but revealed our fears and limitations. During them I deepened my dependence on God, and refined my longing for a deeper, Christ-centered union. Mabel and I believe that God can redeem every story, especially we who are works in progress, for His glory and our good.
Serving Together
Our marriage was soon filled with shared ministry. Mabel led the way in education, and I supported her by helping introduce computers into the school using donated tech from Aetna. We worked alongside three principals to upgrade the lab, classrooms, and offices. While the work was fulfilling, the long hours strained our time together. But God used that season to grow us through the lives of two children Mabel tutored—Catherine and Jason. Their struggles reminded us of our own, and their families' prayers for us strengthened our marriage. Jason eventually invited us to his church—Presbyterian Church of Manchester—where we found a church home and many new friendships.
I served for 12 years at MARC, Inc., helping adults with disabilities find work and connection. Later, I joined The Edwards Institute, a ministry at our church, which offered training and mentoring for lay leaders. I eventually became its administrator and continue to support it through online posts, book studies, and prayer support.
We’ve also shared in missions work with Christ Co-Mission International, helping with container shipments, and I served in Ghana at the Loved by Jesus School in 2015. Locally, we've joined teams traveling to Fairmont, WV, for home repair outreach. Now we pray for them as they go, serve, and grow together. Mabel continues tutoring children in reading and blessing others with her postcard ministry and homemade bread. I plod along with doing websites with Weebly and look forward to using WordPress.
I served for 12 years at MARC, Inc., helping adults with disabilities find work and connection. Later, I joined The Edwards Institute, a ministry at our church, which offered training and mentoring for lay leaders. I eventually became its administrator and continue to support it through online posts, book studies, and prayer support.
We’ve also shared in missions work with Christ Co-Mission International, helping with container shipments, and I served in Ghana at the Loved by Jesus School in 2015. Locally, we've joined teams traveling to Fairmont, WV, for home repair outreach. Now we pray for them as they go, serve, and grow together. Mabel continues tutoring children in reading and blessing others with her postcard ministry and homemade bread. I plod along with doing websites with Weebly and look forward to using WordPress.
Challenges, Grace, & Gratitude
Like many couples, we’ve faced health issues, ministry disappointments, and communication challenges—especially with dyslexia humbling our ability to always understand and respond to each other with love. But in those struggles, God has strengthened our dependence on Him.
We celebrated 25 years of marriage last year with gratitude and home improvements. We’ve enjoyed time with our church, our children, and our grandchildren—four grandsons, two granddaughters, a kind daughter, and a strong adopted son. The grace of God has taken what was broken and brought restoration, purpose, and joy.
Looking Ahead With Thankful Hearts
We are deeply thankful for the people God has placed in our lives—those who prayed for us, walked with us, and encouraged us to keep following Jesus. The world today is filled with confusion and pain, but we know that hope, truth, and lasting love come from Christ alone.
If you're reading this, we’d love to meet you. We invite you to join us in prayer, in mission, and in uniting the Church in New England and beyond. May God bless you with His peace, and may you find your place in His story—just as we have.
With thankful hearts,
Tom & Mabel Stevens
Don't give up on Christian marriage. Love is fragile but God makes the difference.