By CHAD COOPER
For Stephen Ward, returning to Buchanan County isn’t just another stop on a ministry tour.
It’s a homecoming.
A Whitewood native, who has spent decades traveling nationwide leading worship and preaching the Gospel, will come back to his hometown to participate in the three-night Generation United Revival from August 6-8 at the Roger and Susie Rife Park on Southern Gap.
The outdoor revival begins each evening at 7 p.m. and will also feature Joel Horn, JT Harman and Ward’s wife, Lori. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a lawn chair to the free, public event.
For Ward, the opportunity carries special meaning.
“It is truly an honor,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back and pour into a community that invested so much into my life and spiritual journey.”
That journey began in the mountains of Buchanan County.
Growing up in Whitewood, Ward spent his childhood trout fishing, swimming in the Dismal River and riding dirt bikes through the hills of Southwest Virginia. Those experiences, combined with the influence of his family and church, laid the foundation for a ministry that has now reached thousands of people across the country.
“Those simple moments helped shape who I am and gave me a deep appreciation for God’s creation,” Ward said.
Homeschooled throughout his education, Ward discovered his love for singing and gospel music around eight years old.
“I was greatly inspired by my family and our church family, who cultivated a love for worship and ministry from an early age,” he said.
That passion eventually led him far beyond the mountains where he grew up.
Ward met his wife, Lori, when both were 17 years old. They married at 19 and, after six years together, moved to Greenville, South Carolina, where they joined the staff of Redemption Church. They served there until 2016 before launching The Living Room Movement, a ministry focused on encouraging people to pursue a deeper relationship with God.
Today, the couple travels full time, leading worship services, revival meetings and church events across the nation. They now live in Tracy, California, where they have lived for the past two and a half years.
Despite ministering across the country, Ward says the values he learned growing up in Southwest Virginia have remained central to everything he does.
“Growing up in Southwest Virginia taught me the importance of keeping God at the center of every area of my life,” he said. “That foundation has shaped both my ministry and my career.”
Ward said the greatest accomplishment of his ministry isn’t measured by the size of crowds or the stages where he has performed.
“The greatest highlight has never been the stages or the crowds,” he said. “It’s watching people come alive to their true identity in Christ through an encounter with the presence of the Lord.”
One moment, however, stands out among the many services he has led over the years.
During a tent revival, Ward recalled hearing someone running toward the service after hearing the worship music from several blocks away.
“A man heard the worship from several blocks away, came running into the service, threw his drugs on the stage and surrendered his life to Jesus,” Ward said. “Moments like that remind me why we do what we do.”
Now, Ward hopes to see lives impacted once again as he ministers in the county where his own spiritual journey began.
“I believe people can expect more than just a concert,” he said. “They can expect an authentic encounter with God. My heart is that people experience His presence, healing, hope and the reality of miracles, signs and wonders.”
Ward hopes his return home will serve as an encouragement, especially to young people growing up in the same mountains where his own journey of faith and music began.
“My prayer is that my life will serve as a testimony that nothing is impossible for those who believe,” Ward said. “If my story encourages even one person to trust God with their calling, it will be worth it.”
He also offered simple but heartfelt advice to aspiring musicians and worship leaders throughout the region.
“Keep God at the center of everything you do, and make daily fellowship with Him your highest priority,” he said. “Your relationship with Jesus will always be more important than your platform.”
Although his ministry now takes him across the country, Ward said his mission has never changed.
“More than anything, I want people to leave knowing they are fully loved, fully accepted and deeply valued by God,” he said. “Everything we do points people to the love and finished work of Jesus.”
Those unable to attend the revival or wishing to learn more about Ward’s ministry can follow Stephen and Lori Ward on YouTube (Stephen & Lori) and on Facebook and Instagram (The Living Room Movement), where they regularly share worship, teaching and ministry updates.
The Generation United Revival will be held Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 6-8, at the Roger and Susie Rife Park (formerly Poplar Gap Park). Services begin nightly at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring a chair. For more information, contact Jerry Ward at 276-935-5672.
