Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.
For Steven Wade (S.L. Wade), life began straightforwardly. He was born in Tallahassee, and grew up in the Monticello area, enjoying all the perks that living in a small town has to offer. He lived locally for 19 years before leaving the small-town life to travel for work. At the time, Wade had worked for Aycock, a crew which built microwave towers, and in his years working with them, he traveled to six different states, reinforcing towers to be able to withstand updates.
It was in his teenage years that Wade began to slip into a dark lifestyle, hanging around people who drank regularly and did drugs, and it wasn't long before he too was drinking heavily and had started smoking marijuana while he was around certain people. “It wasn't their fault,” Wade stated in reference to his slip into drug use, “I can't pass the blame to anyone but myself for the decisions I made in my life. The company you keep does play a role, but it was nobody's fault but mine.”
As he was working full time and still attending school, Wade sank farther into drug use, relying on heavier drugs like speed to keep him awake for work after he got off from school. “I was in school from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m and then worked from 3:30 p.m. until 10:30 at night working for a rider truck rental company.” he recalled, admitting that he became very reliant on the drugs to make it through his days. “People have something inside of us that is drawn to connect or worship something. For me, I chose alcohol and marijuana, and that quickly led to barbiturates.”
His addiction gave way to the use of drugs like black beauty, white crosses, speckled birds, and yellow jackets, as they were commonly known by then. These consisted of various amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamines, Adderall and barbiturates, among others. Under the influence of these drugs, Wade barely recognized himself. “I did people wrong, I wasn't myself. I wasn't raised like this- I grew up in a Pentecostal church,” said Wade, “I had once been a kind, understanding teenage boy. In that part of my life, I said things I shouldn't say, did things I shouldn't do, and was in places you should never be- it was really a dark zone. I became who I wasn't, and I didn't care who I hurt.” He shook his head regretfully as he continued. “I was always in search of something else.”
Wade's dark path steadily grew darker, as his drug use led him into the world of dealing. He remembers dark moments, meeting strangers in truck stops to trade money for large quantities of drugs, which he then would divide into smaller, single-use amounts to sell on the streets, saying that he dealt them in the thousands, selling them in a desperate need to fuel his own habit. He recalls drunken fistfights, narrow brushes with the law and blacking out behind the wheel. Several times, he would recall waking up in a new location in a foggy stupor, with no memory of being behind the wheel or catching a ride.
In 1999, something happened that would change Wade's life forever. Her name was Joanna, and Wade had made elaborate plans to take her out for her birthday on June 23. “To understand,” Wade prefaced, “I was drinking so bad. By that time, I couldn't make it through the day without a six pack of Ice House and a whole pint of Jack Daniels in my system. Well, I'd planned a birthday for her, was going to pick her up in a limousine and everything. Something happened, I guess I'd gotten drunk and did something to really hurt her feelings.” Wade shook his head, sadly, “The worst part was that I don't even know what I said or did, just that I woke up the next morning and had busted blood vessels all along one side of my face from vomiting so bad the night before. I called her up to take her out for her birthday, having no recollection of the day before, and she told me she was done with me.”
It was that moment that Wade says God took ahold of his heart, changing him forever. “I realized that I wasn't just hurting people. I was hurting people I loved.” Wade stated, “Because I loved her deeply. And I never wanted to hurt her.”
Wade gives full credit to God, saying that just as He had changed Wade that day, He also acted in Joanna's life, giving her a change of heart and causing her to give Wade a precious second chance, one that he was determined not to mess up. On June 24, the day after her birthday, Wade took Joanna out for birthday plans, complete with a limo. “From that day, I never did drugs or got drunk again,” Wade said, matter-of-factly. When asked about how difficult it had been to change the trajectory of his life, he replied, “Not at all. That day I dropped everything, cold turkey. I didn't experience withdraws, didn't have to check into rehab. God delivered me.”
Since then, the changes in his life have been miraculous, Wade says. “It has been like night and day, truly. That woman and God saved my life. Without the change to my lifestyle and their presence in my life, I have no doubt in my mind that I'd be dead right now.”
Wade spends as much time as possible sharing his testimony and spreading the Gospel, both in church and on the street. He has currently spoken at several local churches, including the New Hope Church of God in Monticello (Pastor Dr. E. Bob Kushel), The Renewed Life Outreach Center in Greenville (Pastor Chris Peterson) and New Life Christian Church International in Madison (Pastor John Peterson). Additionally, Wade is a dedicated participant in The Little Book Ministry which was founded in 1966 and regularly distributes small, Christian-themed booklets all around the United States and the world. You may have spied one of these minuscule ministry booklets in one of over 50 locations around Monticello, all managed, restocked and maintained by Wade in the hopes of seeing people saved with the spreading of the Gospel.
“It is in my heart to spread the Word of God,” says Wade, admitting that when he first felt the call to preach, he didn't want to. “I didn't want to preach- God called me to preach. So I do, in as many methods as I can. I strive to be totally in God's will. Some people have told me 'you do so much' but I don't seek praise- I don't feel like it is enough. So I continue to look for people to help, ways to spread the Gospel, ways to do more.”
For those struggling with alcohol or substance abuse, Wade offers simple, yet passionate advice. “Give it to God, and trust Him,” he stated fervently, continuing to describe how often we lay down our problems and struggles to God in church and pick them right back up when we leave, unable to fully give in and trust in God's power. “Give it to God and walk away. Walking away is the hard part. We want to hold onto our troubles, instead of laying them down fully in trust. But God will show you such light when you repent when He calls you. To repent is to turn completely away from your sins. It is in my heart to see people saved.”
Wade has spread the Gospel in 10 states, having preached himself in seven of those ten, and having been on the radio in three. It is a dream of his to personally preach in at least 10 states, although he is leaving it up to God. Wade is always eager to continue spreading the Word of God and sharing his amazing testimony with others. He is available to his community as a speaker for youth rallies, revivals and guest speaking. To contact him, please call (715) 218- 4342.
Although his sweet Joanna passed away from cancer in the early 2000s, he still keeps his remaining family close to his heart. His daughter Destiny lives locally in Monticello, and he also has a son, Tori, granddaughter, Katlen and grandson, Loden, who live in nearby Valdosta. His family is his pride and joy outside of his ministry work, and he is grateful for their presence in his life. When he isn't working, Wade finds great satisfaction in being outdoors, and goes hunting often. “If I've got the rustle of the leaves beneath my feet, and an umbrella of trees above my head, it's a God-given good day!” he says.
You must be logged in to post a comment.