Working All Things Together for Good
for
the Stier Family
by Theresa Stier
We moved to
this area two and a half years ago, on Marine Corps
orders, with the intention of ending our commitment to
the Marine Corps after Christian’s second four year
enlistment. Things were going as we had planned—note the
usage of the word “we.” In the short time we had been in
the area, we found an amazing church, countless friends
who love us, a great job for myself, an outstanding
daycare program for Nathanael, and our first home. After
consulting our friends, and through prayer and
consideration, we even decided that Northern Virginia is
where we would like to settle.
Theresa and Christian Stier
Christian had found
“contacts” in several branches of law enforcement that
he hoped would prove useful when he began hunting for a
civilian job. Christian is also currently enrolled in
Grantham University in hopes of graduating in two years
with a degree in Criminal Justice. We really were happy
with the direction our lives were taking and presumed
that we had things figured out. That’s when God stepped
in.
Christian and Nathanael
On March 31, I was driving to work when I received
a call from Christian. He was seemingly upset and
informed me that he had some bad news to tell me. He
proceeded to tell me that he had been given orders to go
to Okinawa, Japan for three years. The orders called for
our whole family to move to Japan for the duration of
and a year extension on Christian’s enlistment. To top
it off, this would make Christian available for
deployment to Iraq if necessary. I was mortified. I
couldn’t fathom why God would throw us this curve when
we earnestly believed we had sought His will in the
plans we made. Initially, I was very angry with
Christian because I somehow thought he was responsible
for the decision. We ended our phone conversation in the
most unsettling tone. I selfishly called everyone I knew
and complained for the next several hours about how I
felt as if we were being treated unfairly. My reaction
was human but completely inappropriate. Why couldn’t I
just see that God was in control and that Christian was
probably upset or hurting as well?
Later in that day, I received another call from
Christian and he informed me that he had called the
“monitor”—the Marine who is responsible for Marine
placement at various duty stations. The main issue was
that the tour was three years. Christian
Daddy and Nathanael
only had two
years left on his enlistment and the Marine Corps wasn’t
able to force Christian to stay in any longer than his
current commitment. The monitor asked Christian about
whether or not he intended to re-enlist or leave the
Marine Corps. He made the monitor aware of his plan to
leave the military and tackle the civilian job world.
Ultimately, the monitor was aware that he could move our
family to Japan for two years but we would have to be
moved home when Christian’s enlistment ended in May ’07.
The monitor called again later that day and gave
Christian two options. The first option required us to
move our family for three years to Japan and he would
have to re-enlist before we left. The other option—and
obviously less favorable—Christian could move to Japan
alone for one year. Two completely different options:
yet the answer was more than obvious. Christian and I
agreed that he would have to do the year in Japan and
possibly Iraq alone: leaving Nathanael and me here.
Upon moving to the area, we only knew Ty & Missie
Gautsch—a family that we love dearly. We had been
stationed previously with them in North Carolina. Missie
asked us to try Occoquan Bible Church (OBC) first before we began searching for
a Baptist church. Needless to say—we never even tried
another church after OBC. We fell totally in love with
the people, the music, and the message.
Missie also introduced us to Scott and Heather
Hambrick. They have become dear treasures to both
Christian and me. The Hambricks introduced us to Jack and
Vy Yoder, who Christian and I admire deeply. Scott and
Heather are so supportive, encouraging, and sacrificial.
Jack and Vy are so generous, and have guided us in many
decisions in our lives. Their families played a large
part in the decision we made for Christian to go to
Japan alone. We knew that if Nathanael and I had to stay
anywhere without Christian, this place—with these
people who love us—was the best choice.
Christian and Theresa
Through these and other couples, Sunday School, and
fellowship, we have accumulated so many wonderful
brothers and sisters at OBC. The Gautsches, Hambricks, and
Yoders are only three of the countless families that
have touched us so deeply at OBC.
It would be remiss of me not to point out that all of
the people who have touched us have done so because of
the Holy Spirit working through them. For that Christian
and I are daily thankful and hopeful about the next
year. The same Holy Spirit that has guided us and
provided thus far is totally capable of sustaining us
through this next year apart. Christian can go and
defend our country, knowing that there is a church at
home that supports, loves, and prays intently for him.
Christian has fears about Japan and the time away
from Nathanael and me, but I truly believe that he has
complete faith in God and His sovereignty. I know that
Christian finds peace in knowing that the family that he
is accountable to and for stands behind him
wholeheartedly. He must also find joy in knowing that
his family will be provided for and supported with the
utmost love—a love that we, the Stier family, found at OBC.
