Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Steckbauer.
Hi Justin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I had served for about ten years with The Salvation Army, I had traveled all over the midwest serving at Salvation Army facilities. I started my journey in The Salvation Army working at a homeless shelter in Wausau, WI. For two years I served at The Salvation Army in upper michigan, in Escanaba. Food pantries, homeless shelters, hot meals, social services, worship, Bible studies, Sunday church services. I loved The Salvation Army. I traveled around with the army, went from Wausau to Escanaba, to Chicago, to St. Louis, to Rochester, MN, then I landed in Owosso, Michigan after becoming a Salvation Army officer, and took over my first corps facility. I served there for five years, and met my wife Chelsey. We got married in 2024. But after 10 years in The Salvation Army Chelsey and I felt the call in a new direction. We got word that there was an opening at the Traverse City Nazarene Church. For years I’d felt the Lord calling me to Traverse City. I always assumed it would be through The Salvation Army, but God had a different plan. In July 2025 we moved to Traverse City, and we’re really excited to see what God will do now that we’re here!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road, that’s for sure! For years I struggled with depression, anxiety, and addictions. My life was falling apart. I came to a rock bottom experience where I realized I needed something different in life. For years I went for walks at night, looking up at the stars in the country, wondering what life was really about. I eventually came to realize that God was real, and he made the universe and the planet we live on. I gave my life to Jesus Christ, and asked Him to be my savior, and Lord. My chains of depression and addiction were broken, and I gave the rest of my life to serving Him.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Love is the key in any situation, not superficial love, but the depth of sacrificial love. How can I bring someone today closer to who they were always meant to be? I’ve learned to just listen and let people share what they are feeling and thinking. Everyone wants to talk today, but few want to listen. The world needs more listeners. I also try to help everyone I meet understand the simple fact that we can’t do this life alone, and we were never meant to. We need each other. We need real friendships. Ultimately, we need God. We need a loving and truthful God to be our guide, like a friend in a wilderness, who comes along, and leads us through the wilderness and out of the wilderness to safety. God isn’t just deliverance from judgment, he’s also our friend, lover, and guide through life. That’s an intimate personal relationship, one day a time, through an uncertain world. Through this we begin to see life as a series of guideposts, and nudges from the Creator, in particular directions, through trials and difficulties, ups and downs, all with the goal of a new reality in the future free from pain and suffering. This is not just a dream, or a hope, but a concrete reality one may access and engage with in very concrete terms.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
What we’re going to see in the next 5-10 years are revival and spiritual outpourings in areas across the country, and across the world. These revivals will occur at the same time that the world gets darker, and we’ll see increasing problems such as wars, crime, famines, economic downturns, and outbreaks of disease. As things go darker, the light houses of faith will shine brighter than ever, and many will turn to God’s light during these times. That’s what I’ve sensed in my prayer times at least, but we all need to pray, and seek God’s presence, and discover what He’s doing in our times.
Contact Info:
- Website: Lifestyleofpeace.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinsteckbauer
- Twitter: https://x.com/justinsteckbaue
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendofjesus1680
