One time loss becomes eternal reward for Vineyard Boise

Most people know Steve Ball as the guy they look for when the toilet is running over. But many people - especially those who have joined the church in recent years - may not know the how Steve landed his first job at Vineyard Boise in 1994.

The story begins a few months earlier. After a failed marriage, years of alcohol and drug abuse and several run-ins with the law, Steve, then 33, hopped on a Boise-bound bus, hoping to leave his troubles in Las Vegas.
He began attending the Vineyard with his mother, Ann Carey, and after a short time, began volunteering with Obadiah's coffee house, which the church operated in downtown Boise. Still struggling to stay sober, Steve went to Obadiah's after hours on Halloween 1993 and took a week's worth of cash. In the morning, he jumped on a plane to Las Vegas, bought drugs and hitched a ride to Los Angeles.

When Steve sobered up, God was waiting for him, revealing many hidden spiritual issues in his life.

"It was like God pulled away a veil," he says.

On his second day in L.A., Steve walked into a Vineyard church and told his story to the pastor, Bill Dwyer, who was friends with Vineyard Boise pastor Tri Robinson.

Bill called Tri and let him know where Steve was. Steve was surprised by Tri's response.

"He just said, 'Well, we want you home. There's nothing more important to us,' " Steve recalls.

Bill dropped everything and devoted more than 7 hours to helping Steve that day. "He took me to dinner, took me to the airport, bought me a ticket and sent me home."

"When I arrived in Boise, the welcome I got was beyond what I ever believed could happen," Steve remembers. And when he went to church the next Sunday, he was amazed at the forgiveness so many extended to him.

"And that just showed me how much God loved me," Steve says.

To repay the debt he owed Obadiah's, he volunteered with the church's custodial staff for four months. After the debt was paid, the church hired him fulltime as the custodian.

Six years later, Steve is still serving faithfully in facilities as well as participating in many other ministries in the church.