Who are you?

Joe Stringer, your friendly neighborhood Middle School Minister. There is this rumor out there that I have a “real” name, but it’s just a rumor.

I’m married to Marty, and have been for nearly fifteen years. True story, I fell in love with her in the seventh grade…Ms. Dean’s English class to be exact. We have two kids. Lana is nine and loves to read and oil paint. Luke is five. He thinks he’s really funny. He is, but don’t tell him because it’s probably getting him into trouble right now.

Where are you from?

I’m from LA. To everyone else from Lower Alabama, that’s a very old, very bad joke.

How did you get to Hunter Street?

We moved to Birmingham in the summer of 1995. Not too long after that, we met some friends who invited us to Hunter Street. Together, we landed in a great Sunday School class with people who are still very good friends. They’re not like family; they are family.

I spent the next decade doing itinerate ministry and working at a company called Bud’s Best Cookies. For several years, God had prepared me to return to the ministry of the local church. In what was an impressive move of God, I was invited to join the staff here in the summer of 2005.

How long have you been at Hunter Street?

Is this a trick question? Because I thought I just answered it. You have to spell it out for some people…

2008 – 1995 = 13 years as a Hunter Streeter
2008 – 2005 = 3 years on staff

How did you come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Because my parents were faithful to take me to church, I knew all about Jesus. As a senior in high school, though, I came to the realization that I did not know him. There, my friends, is all the difference.

Remember that girl in Ms. Dean’s seventh grade English class I told you about (see question #1)? Well, I finally convinced her to give me a chance. Before I knew it, I was going to church where her dad was pastor. There, submerged in the message of the Gospel and the faithful teaching of God’s Word, I slowly learned that I really was lost…and hopeless. Late one night that winter, I was on the phone with Marty. I don’t remember what it was about, but I was pretty upset. I had probably been a jerk. I’ll never forget her words, “What have you ever done with Jesus?” Neither will I ever forget the feeling the moment I realized that the answer was, “Nothing.” Right then, right there, Jesus invaded my life.

What verse or passage in the Bible is the most meaningful to you?

Romans 8, 9, and 10; John 14 – 17; and Isaiah…yep, the whole thing.

Who are your heroes?

The first are easy…Perry and Harriet Outlaw and the original Joe Stringer. When you have a little while, ask me about them.

Then, there is Elvis, SCC, SRV, and EVH. Wielding an axe (or sword) of another kind are Charles Hadden Spurgeon, Buddy Gray, Dr. Russ Moore, and Grant Barber.

Certainly not least is every eighth grader making a stand for Christ in public school (and there are a bunch!) and the guy who started the Chuck Norris jokes.

Do you have any hobbies?

I spend most of my free time hanging with my family. We do lots of cool things together.

I also love listening to live music, fishing (though tough to do with no boat!), spending time at the hunting camp, and waking up to the smell of salt and the sound of waves crashing.

What’s your favorite sport?

Far and away, it’s baseball. Especially at the park…enjoying a pretzel dog with a side of nachos with extra cheese and Diet Pepsi.