Sonja Tate was a dear friend to Steve Garmrath. After Steve graduated from John 3:16, that was when their friendship really flourished. In this interview, Tate describes her experience being friends with Steve.
Sonja Tate has been a Coach Athletic Director at Paragould High School for four years. She spent these years coaching Paragould track and the Lady Rams basketball team.
"Only God can take a broken man like Steve Garmrath and continue to have an impact on people even when he is no longer with us."
When did you meet Steve, and how did he impact you personally?
I met Steve in 2011. When I first met him he scared me and I did not want to be around him unless Clifton was present. It was not until Steve graduated from John 3:16 that I started building a relationship with and we had a heck of a relationship. We laughed a lot and talked about coaching strategies. He was so knowledgeable about sports and he always kept me updated on the weather.
What did he do for our community?
After Steve graduated from John 3:16 he poured his heart and soul into the Paragould community. For five solid years, his ministry was to help others find Jesus. Steve helped many men get into John 3:16 as he would carry 1 sometimes 2 men on Sundays to Charlotte, Ark. He would start every morning at 4:30 by sending out positive messages to several people, praying for those same people, getting ready for work then drive to work in Jonesboro. When he would arrive back home around 4:30 that afternoon, he would then get ready and go to a different celebrity recovery every night of the week. Steve would sometimes be a guest speaker, but more importantly, he was always present to help someone else find Jesus.
What was your happiest memory with Steve?
My happiest memory of Steve was when I went with the family to witness his graduation from John 3:16. For the next 5 years it was always a pleasure to be around his positive attitude. He made you laugh and was always encouraging you and others to love harder and be the very best that you can be. Steve was not a judgmental person. He loved everyone and always wanted to know about your life and how things were going.
If you had to describe the legacy he left behind, what would you say?
Steve’s legacy I think will always be remembered as a man that walked the walk. He was not ashamed to talk about Jesus and the pitiful of alcohol and drugs and how Jesus pulled him out of that 27 years of shame, hate, bitterness, and no hope. Steve was very humble and never wanted a pat on the back, he just wanted you to know that the world no longer controlled his way of life...JESUS DID!! Five years of his testimony was not enough for us on this earth, but he touched more people in that short 5 years and he will be remembered for many years to come. Only God can take a broken man like Steve Garmrath and continue to have an impact on people even when he is no longer with us.
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