Paul Steward

As they were growing up in rural farming communities in South Dakota and Nebraska, neither Paul nor Lois realized what God would ask them to do with their future. They met at Seattle Pacific College (Washington) and were married on August 30, 1955. They pastored in South Dakota for two years before beginning their career as missionaries.

Life in Bolivia got off to a running start. Paul got malaria two weeks after arriving, and during their first term (with no prior medical training), the couple stitched up a nine-inch gash in a man’s arm. Paul and Lois kept busy throughout their career in Bolivia as they moved several times and worked with different missionaries. They raised two daughters: Sandy, who is now a WGM missionary on the American Indian Field; and Sue, married to a pastor in Ohio.

Paul and Lois certainly bettered their path through Bolivia, both for other missionaries and for Bolivians they met. God faithfully carried them through each step—and misstep. “We loved them,” Lois said. “I know that I made a lot of mistakes and misunderstood people, but we loved them.”

Paul and Lois retired in 1997 after 41 years of service and now live in Upland, Indiana. Like their time in Bolivia, their retirement has been full of activity. Both volunteered at WGM for several years, Lois in the mailroom and Paul in the print shop. Paul also manages the archives at WGM headquarters. Lois passed away on January 29, 2018. 

Read more about the Steward's service from Paul's perspective and from Lois' perspective.