Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Steven Rogers!

There is No Such Thing as Ordinary

Back in the 1990’s, my children were young, my mortgage long, and my business career developing. My faith journey was a fledgling eagle, still confined to the nest. It’s safe to describe my mental condition as “perpetually stressed, with short periods of serenity.” One morning, I was waiting in front of a hotel when a cab driver asked if I needed a ride. When I explained that the valet was delivering my car from the parking lot, she flashed a wide smile and said, “Have a blessed day.” Sitting here today, I still remember how my body relaxed with her words.

Now, incredibly, we’re in the year 2025. My business career is over, and I’m a Christian novelist. Like most writers, I dream about creating bestselling books and changing the lives of thousands of people around the world. I invest my time and resources trying to break out beyond my immediate circle of readers. Until recently, I frequently felt frustrated and disappointed about not being a “bigger name” in the Christian book market.

However, earlier this year my perspective changed. Shortly after the release of my second novel, A Year

in the Room, one reader sent me a message saying, “I think I’m a better man because I read this book.” A few months later, another reader told me “This story is my life. Thank you for writing it.” As positive as those comments were, I immediately experienced shame—because of my ambition, I was downplaying the existing opportunities God was providing to reach people. I thought back to that cab driver and her four simple words. She provided two seconds of ministry that has endured for close to thirty years.

Because I’m a writer, my brain started working overtime and I launched a period of self-evaluation and introspection. While the details are complicated, when my reading, journaling, and discussions with others ended, I had a new guiding principle for my ministry—there is no such thing as ordinary. While I should have learned this earlier in life, I now know that every breath, every action, and every thought belong to God. Every interaction is an opportunity to testify on His behalf.

What does this mean to me? Well, it means I stop worrying about selling a million books and creating an international mission field. Instead, I accept the opportunities in front of me and trust God’s leadership. This is true not only with my writing, but also in my day-to-day interactions with others. I can always offer a kind word, helping hand, or listening ear.

Would I welcome the opportunity to reach a larger audience? Sure. Would I love someday to have a charitable foundation promoting worldwide literacy? Yes. In the meantime, I’ll strive to remain unceasingly in God’s presence and satisfy His will for my life. Like the cab driver all those years ago, I will remember that everything I do, all day, every day, is ministry.

About A Year in the Room

Reluctant pilgrim Ben Cahill steps off a flight from Israel facing an unrelenting list of challenges—a fractured family, no job, no place to live, and a dubious grip on his newly-found sobriety. He has no plans for the next steps in his life. Ben starts over, settling into a small, rented room and working three part-time jobs. As his first year of recovery unfolds, Ben fights an unrelenting spiritual war against his personal demons and the consequences of his past actions.

Can a chain-smoking, no-nonsense grandmother, a retired navy cook, a crusty old Scotsman, and an unexpected pilgrimage to the legendary Scottish Island of Iona, clear away the wreckage of Ben’s life and lead him to hope? Join Ben on his journey in this sequel to the award-winning novel Into the Room.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Ysevkp

About Steven Rogers:

Steven Rogers is an award-winning Christian author of the “Reluctant Pilgrim” series. His award-winning second novel, A Year in the Room was published in November 2024. The book is sequel to his award-winning debut novel, Into the Room. He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife of thirty-nine years, Kathy.

Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.steven-rogers.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenRogersWriter/
Instagram: @stevenrogerswriter