In the 1960s, Stevens began a ministry school at Grace Chapel of South Gate, California.1 Through interactive lessons, he imparted his knowledge of how to lead a church service and move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These lessons were ongoing for the next two decades. In May 1965, Stevens dedicated the Church of the Living Word in Sepulveda, California (now North Hills), a church born out of local home meetings in the San Fernando Valley.2
In the mid-1960s Marilyn Hargrave saw the need to preserve the messages being spoken by Stevens in the church services. She developed systems and procedures for recording and publishing these messages in the form of tapes and books. The departments formed and established by Marilyn continued to grow and expand.3 In 1968, Stevens established The Living Word, the fellowship’s publishing house now located in North Hollywood, California.
By the end of the 1960s through the early 1970s, there was an enormous influx of young people into Stevens’ churches.4 As the number of congregants in Southern California alone rose to over 1,000 people, many pastors were ordained and elders trained under Stevens’ ministry. All of these assisted him in the development of the churches and the publishing ministry of the Living Word. Also, a number of pastors around the world came to John Robert Stevens and asked to affiliate themselves with him and his teachings. Stevens received them as a spiritual father would. This resulted in an additional fifty churches and Bible studies that became freewill members of the fellowship across the United States and in twelve other countries.
In 1973, Stevens established Church of His Holy Presence in Anaheim, California.5 In 1974, ground was broken for Shiloh, a conference center in Kalona, Iowa.6 Stevens kept a full schedule during these years, conducting as many as eleven services per week preaching among the three churches in Southern California.
Even though Stevens initially resisted naming the growing fellowship of churches, it became commonly known as “The Walk,” or “This Walk,” due to his emphasis that each Christian should have a personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.7, 8 However, it was his anointed, prophetic utterance spoken by the Holy Spirit which was so alive that gave rise to the name, The Living Word.
As the fellowship entered the 1980s, an entirely new generation of members came to know the Lord Jesus Christ through Stevens’ unique ministry style.9 In October of 1980, Stevens married Marilyn.10 The synergy of that relationship liberated him to teach people to apply to their daily lives the Word he had preached in the previous four decades.
Stevens’ Ministry GrowsCitations
1. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, The Vision and Purpose for a Ministry School: The Living Word, 1998. 98102109R
2. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Restoration Glory: The Living Word, 1976. RN18D025R
3. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Serving The Word: The Living Word, 1982. 83021403R
4. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Judging the Spirits of Aurora: John Robert Stevens, 1977. 77031605R
5. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Another Step Beyond: The Living Word, 1980. 73070105R
6. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, By Faith We Are Entering In: The Living Word, 1980. 74081901R
7. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, “This Is The Walk”—A Symposium: The Living Word, 1976. 75062701R
8. Genesis 5:22-24; Deuteronomy 5:33; Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 2:6
9. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, Who’s On—Third?: The Living Word, 1982. 82010701R
10. Stevens, John Robert: Audio Release, “And This We Do in the Name of the Lord”: The Living Word, 1980. 80101701RV
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