{"id":170,"date":"2018-10-19T00:08:11","date_gmt":"2018-10-19T00:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ladiesstudyingjesus.com\/?page_id=170"},"modified":"2024-06-09T02:20:48","modified_gmt":"2024-06-09T02:20:48","slug":"biography","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ladiesstudyingjesus.com\/index.php\/biography\/","title":{"rendered":"Biography"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Greetings Friends,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

We are honored that you have taken the time to look and perhaps listen to lessons in our study of Jesus our Savior.\u00a0 I want to introduce myself and give you the background of Ladies Studying Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>

Testimony:<\/strong>
I was born to a young farming family in central Wisconsin. When I was 8 years old, my dad, Duane Ott, was brought to Christ while listening to Christian radio in the barn. A short time later, our family found a Bible-preaching church and I came to an understanding of God\u2019s wonderful plan of Salvation. Even as a child, I remember enjoying listening to and studying God\u2019s Word; I loved to teach others the Scriptures. By the time I was 10 years old, we left the farm, and my parents began to prepare for a lifetime of missionary service.<\/p>

After Bible college, I married my college sweetheart, John Steuerwald, and we have spent over four decades serving in Christian school ministries in southern Wisconsin. God has blessed us with six children and five grandchildren. Besides preparing and writing Bible studies, I enjoy cooking, gardening, brisk walks, and time with family at our cabin in northern Wisconsin.<\/p>

Passion:<\/strong>
About 25 years ago during a Wednesday night Bible study in my church; we were studying the book of Acts.\u00a0 I was challenged by God to be bolder in my faith as Peter, Paul, and the other early believers shared Christ; speaking and sharing the truth as God gave them an opportunity. Little did I know that in the quietness of that Bible study, as I committed to obeying God in this area of my life, He would lead me in a very specific way. Very soon after that commitment, swimming lessons began for my three small elementary children. I found myself on a balcony overlooking the pool with other bored moms! I enjoyed talking with a couple of them about our children, home, and lives in general and soon found we all attended Bible-preaching churches in the area. In the course of conversation, I was convicted that I needed to share Biblical principles and truth with these women. Near the end of our three weeks of swimming lessons, my new friends asked if I would consider doing a Bible study with them. I was taken back; I remember telling my husband John with a laugh in my voice. But he wisely told me not to dismiss this opportunity as it may be from God. Well, I did start a Bible study and outside of a couple of years when babies were born, I\u2019ve had a ladies’ Bible study in our home ever since!<\/p>

For almost 15 years, from September to May, I would teach wonderful Bible study materials to 4-10 ladies around my dining room table each week. We covered many Christian living subjects, topics relating to marriage and children, and books of the Bible. About 10 years ago my Pastor asked if I would do the same Bible study at my church each week as well. We loved seeing women discipled and growing in their Christian walk! At the same time, God was growing my faith and deepening my love for Bible study. Every summer I would diligently seek out the next Bible study topic or book. It was 13 years ago when I had a desire to study Jesus. I began my quest to find a good Bible study book on Christ and all I found were 12-week courses. I hated the fact that the bulk of Jesus\u2019 life was not included! That fall, we started one of those books but shortly realized this was not what I wanted. A Bible study friend felt the same as me and took me aside one day, looked me in the eye, and said, \u201cYou could do this on your own, you don\u2019t need a book! Go study and teach Jesus!\u201d Wow, I had always used a book to teach; I doubted her confidence in me but started to collect study Bibles, commentaries, and books on the life of Christ!<\/p>

Our study of Jesus soon took on a form that has continued these many years!<\/p>