What Pro-Life Leaders Are Saying about Steve
Steve Wagner is the finest campus trainer of pro-life advocates that I have ever known. His training not only gives students good answers to critic's questions, but transforms them into agents of cultural change. Steve is exactly what we need to take back our campuses for life.
Scott Klusendorf
President, Life Training Institute
Steve's training program models compassionate listening and take-it-to-the-house interaction skills. His own passion for learning and his no-nonsense approach to the ever-changing world of bio-ethics not only brings a wealth of up-to-date information to his audience, it helps them develop critical thinking skills. Many can draw a crowd in our work; Steve teaches our students how to constructively engage a crowd and individuals for the sake of all those vulnerable and for Christ's Kingdom.
David Lee
Executive Director, Justice For All
Steve not only presented compelling arguments that the others were not able to counter, but he did so in such a winsome manner that people in the audience were doubly-persuaded. If I were in a debate, I sure would want to be on the same side as Steve!
John Kilner
President, Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
What Event Coordinators Are Saying about Steve
I am writing in connection to Stephen Wagner’s visit to my Introduction to Ethics class. I asked Steve to present the strongest case he could in favor of the “pro-life” position in the abortion debate, and he did just that. He gave an intelligent and lively talk; I would be glad to have him back again.
I was especially impressed that Steve addressed with the seriousness they deserve Peter Singer’s arguments about abortion. Instead of retreating into the mindless platitudes that are all too familiar in the abortion debate, Steve argued that Singer’s arguments fail on their own terms and have unsavory consequences. This is the kind of sophistication appropriate for philosophy classes.
I think all my students benefited from seeing a person who is so clearly committed to the truth of some ethical point of view even those who, like myself, ultimately disagree with his position. Too often, ethics is an abstract pursuit. Steve’s talk brought home to all of us just how real and how important these issues are.
Jeffrey Moriarty, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy , California State University, Long Beach
Thank you so much for training my students for the Justice For All exhibit at Auraria campus in Denver. The students thoroughly enjoyed their day at the campus. They went with great apprehension and ended up enjoying themselves and felt they had learned a lot. They particularly enjoyed watching you "duel" with the students out in the open. Most of them spent a lot of time just soaking that in - watching and learning. Thanks so much! I stood there, and wondered if that was how the people felt when Paul was on Mars Hill reasoning with the crowd. God has given you a wonderful gift.
Loretta Abbott
Teacher, Christian Fellowship School , Lakewood, CO
We ALL LOVED Steve! His day-long training was wonderful. The kids were excited to do the field trip the following day. It was pouring rain, but it didn't dampen their spirits! We spent two hours in downtown Portland with the survey...they kids were SO excited when they were done...it was a huge success! I think the field trip cemented to them how to talk to others and gave them the courage that they can do it! We look forward to having him back!
Gayle Atteberry
Executive Director, Oregon Right to Life
I am happy to tell you that the Banquet raised … the largest amount brought in at a banquet to date. We have had very positive feedback on you as a speaker and on the entire evening being “the best banquet ever.”
Janet Evanco
Director, CareNet-Rhode Island
What Audiences Are Saying about Steve
“Stephen's workshop "Who is Waiting for You?" is the best youth workshop I have ever attended. For once we listened to someone who knows the culture and the war against our students. I know firsthand that 50% of the Christian teenagers we send to college get reasoned out of their Christian faith. I believe that Stephen Wagner is on the cutting edge of youth ministry. We must equip our students to champion the Christian faith… My students loved listening to Stephen. They all went forward to get more copies of his notes. They approached Stephen personally to talk to him and get to know more of the answers that they needed. I really appreciated how personable Stephen was with my students. Even with such emotional topics like abortion and stem cell research, Stephen showed tremendous sensitivity while speaking the truth. I feel that our students are starving for someone like Stephen who will teach them the truth.”
Kevin Heppner
Associate Pastor of High School , Turlock Evangelical Free Church
"What you said today moved me almost more than anything ever has before."
Kelly Honeycutt
High School Student, Paso Robles, CA
(via email, March 24,2003)
"I was pro-choice until you… "
Homeschooling mother of five kids in Pennsylvania
"The approach Steve Wagner explained gave me some idea of how to defend my view in a way that does not escalate the conversation and make it more adversarial than necessary. He is clearly a highly intelligent person who has experience talking to pro-choice people. … If I were to get more involved in the pro-life cause I'd tend to use Mr. Wagner's approach as training wheels."
UCSB pro-life atheist
"Steve is really good at dealing with and teaching smart annoying punk kids.
(that’s a compliment) Keep up the good work!"
Rachel
(Survivors, 2002)
"I liked the interaction and role-play because it’s real life…
I learned a lot especially about compassion and asking questions."
Johanna
(Survivors, 2004)
"The guy is making perfect sense. He criticizes the two pro-lifers for ganging up on the pro-choice woman, for refusing to show any sympathy for the fact that she was raped and for being generally loutish. He's an articulate, intelligent, calm presence. Suddenly, a chill creeps up your spine: I hope there are people on the pro-choice side who are equally perceptive and balanced."
Nerve Magazine
(referring to Stephen’s work in a review of Unborn in the USA)
"Steve thank you so much! You were so cool and you have incredible speaking talent. I had fun and you really interacted with us. I liked how you involved us and spoke to us while you were talking. You’re great, keep letting Jesus use you for Himself. Thanks."
Apryl
(Survivors, 2002)
“After I was done with your talk I realized what I was lacking.
I was not asking many questions and I’m sure [I was] sounding pretty rude.”
Harry
(Survivors, 2004)
What People Are Saying about Steve’s Book
(Common Ground Without Compromise: 25 Questions to Create Dialogue on Abortion)
"[With Common Ground] Steve Wagner has made a great contribution to breaking the logjam in the discussion of abortion. These discussions often end up as posturing or shouting matches because there is no common place to begin. Steve has identified places of common ground from which to proceed--this has the chance to actually make some headway in these difficult and emotional discussions. I commend this book for those who want to engage the discussion seriously."
Scott B. Rae, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy , Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
"Both sides of the abortion debate claim to be defending the dignity of persons. Unfortunately, while quarrelling with each other they sometimes neglect to consider the dignity of the person with whom they are disagreeing. Steve Wagner’s book is an antidote to this. He offers to his readers a template on how one may go about discussing the abortion issue with firm conviction while at the same time exhibiting charity. This is a fine piece of work."
Francis J. Beckwith
Associate Professor of Philosophy & Church-State Studies, Baylor University
"Simply put, this book is brilliant. I've seen it work in person. It definitely makes for a more "Christian" discussion, as opposed to screaming at people or waving bibles in their faces. Anyone who doubts the approach should consider the results of those that use it. This book has helped me go to the next level in establishing common ground with even the most extreme pro-choice advocate."
Josh Brahm
Review on Amazon.com
