As youth pastor at Mogadore Baptist Church since 2004, 32-year-old Paul Seymour has accepted many roles in his work with teens at his church and in the community. From Bible teacher to mentor, games and activities director to coach, Paul has demonstrated far-reaching skills that allow him to share his faith with others and encourage teens who are struggling with real-world issues.
His most important role is as husband to wife Stephanie and dad to 7-year-old Chloe, 5-year-old Isaiah, and 18-month-old Shiloh. Paul and Steph’s faith was deeply challenged when Isaiah was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 2, requiring extended hospitalizations and chemotherapy treatments. The couple took turns sitting at their son’s bedside, reading stories and playing games to distract him from the pain and inactivity of his condition, as well as caring for Chloe at home and maintaining Paul’s youth minister duties. Their dedication was rewarded when Isaiah was pronounced by doctors to be cured. He now lives a happy, normal life with his loving parents and sisters.
Paul and Stephanie are actively involved with their church and community in various ways. They enjoy playing volleyball, and Stephanie has run a marathon race. A few years ago, Paul accompanied a youth mission team to Ensenada, Mexico, to minister to poverty-stricken villagers. An avid musician, he plays guitar in the Mogadore Baptist Church praise team and occasionally performs in a praise band at community events, including famed Ohio amusement park Cedar Point.
Teens from the church’s youth group eagerly speak of Paul’s spiritual guidance and influence.
“I learned so much from Pastor Paul,” says 18-year-old Brandon Swain, Practical Bible College freshman. “He had a huge influence on my life. If he hadn’t been there teaching us about the Bible, I don’t know if I’d be attending a Christian college today.”
Bethany Johanyak, a 19-year-old college sophomore, shares similar feelings. “Pastor Paul and Stephanie are the best youth ministers a church could have. They set a great example and teach us important spiritual truths. I hope to have a marriage like theirs someday.”
Paul’s father, Robert Seymour, is senior pastor at Mogadore Baptist Church in Mogadore, Ohio. He Paul occasionally preaches for his father when Rob travels to Romania to participate in a pastor training program or is otherwise unavailable.
As if all this were not enough, Paul’s and Stephanie’s acting skills recently came to light in a new Christian movie from Mogadore Films. When church member and screenwriter Debra Johanyak made an inspirational film titled More than Chance about 10-year-old disabled Russian adoptee Kelsey Minick, whose friendship with a troubled teen inspires dreams of ballet and basketball, Debra recruited Paul to play the child’s doctor.
“Paul is a natural actor,” Debra says. “He learned his part readily and comes across very realistically. In fact, Stephanie also plays a role as Kelsey’s adoptive mom. Even Shiloh plays newborn Kelsey in the opening scene. We’re grateful for the family’s willingness to be involved with our film. The movie premiered last year to an audience of 1,400 and is slated for national release this fall.
Paul and Stephanie Seymour have had their share of trials, but they’ve also been blessed with extraordinary talents that they use generously to glorify God and evangelize youth. With this tremendous start to their ministry, it will be interesting to see what lies ahead for this special young couple and their family.
