Where Is Stephen?

To the Editor:

This is a true story of a young man I met about eight weeks before his death (July 6, 2005).

Stephen called me and we met at Dunkin’ Donuts in Southbury. We talked for about two hours. He spoke of the things he loved and of his struggles. I asked if he would like to come to church and he said yes. I told him that I am not pushing him into going but only asking him. Stephen then interrupted me and said, “For the last six months I felt I needed to get back to church.” Stephen showed up at my church in West Haven on Sunday with his girlfriend Michelle, and during the service my pastor asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus into their heart. Stephen wanted to take this step so my friend Lisa, who was sitting next to him, asked if she could walk him up to the altar, she then accompanied him up to the front.

That day Stephen Moulton accepted Jesus into his heart.

In the Bible in Luke 23 Jesus was being crucified between two criminals. One criminal said, “Are you not the Christ, save yourself and us” but the other criminal rebuked him and replied, “Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Stephen made some choices that were not in his best interest but the most important choice he made was accepting Jesus Christ into his heart that Sunday. He wasn’t pushed into making this decision but drawn by God six months prior. I wish the story didn’t end with Stephen’s death, and I have some questions that I do not have answers to, but I know, that I know where Stephen is at this moment. Because of his decision to follow Jesus, today and for all eternity Stephen Moulton is in paradise.

A friend of Stephen’s,

Thomas J. Maguire

5 Golden Pond Road, Newtown                                October 25, 2005