“But We Trust”: Celebrating the Legacy of Steve and Kay Carpenter
When Steve and Kay Carpenter were preparing to leave for Mexico in 1993, they couldn't see what the future would hold.
Like many missionaries stepping into a new season, they felt the uncertainty of the unknown. In a letter to supporters, they wrote, "Surely the most difficult aspect of all is the uncertainty. I would be less than honest if I said we had no concerns about adventuring into the unknown. But we trust. We trust the Lord to lead us into what is unknown to us but known to Him."
More than 30 years later, those words beautifully capture the story of a couple who spent decades trusting God one step at a time.
When Steve and Kay arrived in Mexico in 1995, they couldn't have imagined all that lay ahead. They couldn't foresee the churches that would be planted, the leaders who would emerge, the lifelong friendships that would form, or the ways God would use ordinary moments to change lives. They certainly couldn't have predicted a global pandemic that would require planting a church through Zoom meetings.
What they did know was that God had called them to be present, to invest deeply in people, and to stay.
Over the years, that commitment shaped countless lives. Yes, churches were planted. Ministries were launched. Community programs were developed through Hands of Life (Manos de Vida) Community Center. But the deeper story is one of relationships.
Steve met a young man named Jonathan on a soccer field. What began as a friendship led to weekly Bible studies. Eventually Jonathan and his wife, Alma, chose to follow Jesus and were baptized. Stories like that appeared again and again throughout the Carpenters' ministry. They understood that transformation often begins with something as simple as showing up, listening, and building genuine friendships.
Their ministry was also marked by a willingness to adapt. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve and Kay organized food deliveries for struggling families while conducting ministry online. When plans for a new church plant were disrupted, they pressed forward anyway. As Steve and Kay later reflected, "The Lord planted his church in spite of a pandemic and in spite of our hesitancy."
Perhaps the clearest evidence of their impact can be seen in what happened over time. As years passed, Steve and Kay became less central to the stories they told. More and more, they celebrated Mexican leaders, fellow missionaries, and ministry partners who were leading the work. Their goal was never to be the center of ministry. It was to help others flourish.
At one point, while describing a growing ministry led by others, Steve and Kay simply wrote, "We are also assisting as time allows." It is a humble statement, but it reveals something profound. The churches remained. The leaders continued serving. The ministries endured. The house God built was standing strong.
Throughout their years in Mexico, another word appeared frequently in their newsletters: partnership. They regularly reminded supporters that this was a shared ministry. The prayers, encouragement, giving, work teams, and friendships of countless partners made their service possible. Together, God used that partnership to cultivate something lasting.
As Steve and Kay enjoy retirement, we celebrate far more than a list of accomplishments. We celebrate lives faithfully invested in others. We celebrate decades of trust in God's leading. And we celebrate a legacy that continues through the churches, leaders, ministries, and relationships they helped nurture.
The future remains unknown, just as it did in 1993.
But after more than three decades of faithful service, Steve and Kay know what they have proven countless times along the way:
God can be trusted.
