Steve R. Bierly

Steve R. Bierly's family always knew he would be a pastor from the time when he, as a toddler, admonished his mother to "Be Ye kind" as she was about to punish him for raiding the cupboard and purposely spilling a box of cocoa all over the floor. But Steve wasn't convinced. In his young adult years, he toyed with the ideas of becoming a disc jockey or a TV writer. But the verses in Ephesians about God giving pastor/teachers to The Church to prepare God's people for works of service touched Steve's heart and called him into the ministry. He's now retired from the pastorate after 37 years in the ministry, having served churches in New Hampshire, New York, and Iowa.

Steve is married with 2 adult children (both married) and a grandson. He enjoys reading theology (really!), collecting comic books and movies and TV shows, walking, NBA basketball, NFL football, weight training and golden-oldies rock-and-roll.

A graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Steve has authored books and articles on pastoring small churches, the Christian life, the Bible, pop culture, and Popeye The Sailor!! He is a regular columnist for The Official Popeye Fanclub News-Magazine and wrote for the Sunday School Guide for many years.

Steve loves pop culture and often finds God's truths expressed therein, whether intentional or not. He believes what he heard in college that "All truth is God's truth."

His books either come from his life's mission to help people see that God and the Bible are even more awesome and relevant than they thought, or from his sense of having fun, or both!