Steve and Stephanie Standridge
After years of training and ministry experience in Italy, coupled with a deep passion to reach the lost, God began to lead them in another direction. In the summer of 2006 a survey trip clearly pointed them toward the city of Bolzano. In January of 2007, another trip to Bolzano, with the elders of their sending church in Italy and our Aurora representative along, convinced everyone involved that a great door is open in this place.
Meet the Family
Steve
Parents: William and Maria Teresa - Missionaries in Italy since 1949 - also with Aurora Mission!
Grandparents: William and Elisa Standridge - Pastorate and Camp Ministry in USA for over 40 years.
Interesting notes:
• Great-great grandfather on his mother’s side was a Roman Catholic Bishop.
• Steve came to salvation through Christ in his early years thanks to Godly parents and exposure to the Gospel from birth!
• Steve's parents were in the U.S. on furlough when he was born, but he grew up in Italy!
Education: Since Steve came to saving faith in Christ at a very young age, he decided, as a teenager, to take steps toward becoming a missionary himself. After receiving his High School diploma in Italy, he came to the U.S. where he majored in Speech Communications at Cedarville College in Ohio and received an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Northwest Baptist Seminary. He returned to Italy in August, 1986 to minister to his people - the people of Italy.
Stephanie
Raised in a Roman Catholic family, Stephanie is originally from Germany and came to faith in Christ as a teen-ager through the street evangelism ministry of missionaries there. She worked as a nurse in Leonberg, Germany. It was during a short-term missions trip at Isola that she met Steve, who was already serving as the director. She joined Steve in marriage and service in December 1995. Both Stephanie and Steve are able to speak three European languages!
Children
• Simeon loves animals. He was born with nerve damage in his left arm, but is energetic and enjoys life. He was born in Italy on October 22, 1998. He loves to read books, especially about therapy, and excels in his swimming lessons at the YMCA. 
• Elisa was also born in Italy, on December 15, 2000. She is learning all she can from her brother! She loves to draw pictures for all her friends and is very efficient in helping Mommy around the house.
Family’s unique fit for ministry in Italy
• Keen understanding of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Deep understanding of the Italian culture.
• Both parents have European roots and upbringing. Both children were born in Italy.
• Nineteen years of missionary experience in Italy.
• Italian is Steve’s mother tongue and Italy is where he feels at home.
• Stephanie, through contact since she was a teenager with Italian immigrants in her home town near Stuttgart, has always loved the Italian culture. ( Standridge Ministry Continued)
