Against All Odds

Pastor Stephen Mallory Colbert Sr. is a proud native of Baltimore.He is passionate about ministry to the lost, the least and the last members of society. Pastor Colbert received his formal education from the Frederick Douglas High School in Baltimore; the Community College of Baltimore (Recreational Leadership Major); Coppin State University (B.S. Degree in Special Education and a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling); the Johns Hopkins University School of Professional Studies in Business and Education (Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision); and the St. Marys Seminary and University Ecumenical Institute (Theological Studies Program).Pastor Colbert retired in June 2011 after 32 years of committed service to Baltimores public school students, which included three wonderful years as the Principal of the renowned Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School.Pastor Colbert serves as the pastor of the City of Hope Church. He also makes himself available to minister to people in the community, the prisons, drug recovery programs, mental health centers and mentoring programs.Pastor Colbert currently volunteers part-time in the Baltimore City Public School System Re-Engagement Center where he assists with identifying and reinstating high school drop outs who desire to obtain their high school diplomas.Pastor Colbert also works part-time in the BCPS Office of Achievement and Accountability where he is assigned to monitor the administration of district and state-wide testing programs.Pastor Colbert and his lovely wife of 38 years, Eva, love to travel and vacation. He enjoys spending quality time with his two adult children (Stacie and Stephen Jr.) and his four grandchildren; Rodrick, Ryann, Jamier and Skyler.Pastor Colberts life is driven by two mantras: My life is for Service and My Service is for Life and My aim in life is to wear-out helping others and enjoy life to the fullest. I plan to avoid sitting around the house rusting out in retirement. Amen!!!

The book is a powerful portrayal of Pastor Stephen Colberts incredible journey with God over a span of fifty-five years. The book highlights Pastor Colberts victorious fights with twelve life-threatening medical conditions, starting with a near-fatal car accident at the age of eight and culminating with a series of traumatic medical events at the age of sixty-three.When you read my story, I hope that you will become engaged with it and embrace the unbeatable, faithful, and awesome God of the universe, who is also the God who rescues and delivers ordinary people against all odds.