Arterburn, Stephen 1953–

(Stephen Forrest Arterburn)

PERSONAL: Born June 18, 1953, in Ranger, TX; son of Walter and Clara Arterburn; married, February 7, 1982; wife's name, Sandy (an expert in Hawaiian antiques); children: Madeline Victoria. Education: Attended Texas A&M University, 1971; Baylor University, B.S., 1976; graduate study at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1977; University of North Texas, M.Ed., 1980. Politics: Republican. Religion: "Conservative Evangelical." Hobbies and other interests: Marathon running.

ADDRESSES: Home—905 Canyon View, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Office—New Life Clinics, 570 Glenneyre, Ste. 107, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

CAREER: Comprehensive Care Corp., began as nurse's aide, became vice president of operations, 1977–86; Westworld Community Healthcare, chairperson, 1986–88; Minirth Meier New Life Clinics (later known as New Life Clinics), Laguna Beach, CA, cofounder, 1988–, chairperson, 1988–; missionary, India-Spiritual Overseers Service. Cohost of New Life Live! (daily national radio program); creator of Women of Faith Conferences; speaker in United States; guest on national television programs, including Oprah! Geraldo, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, CNN Live, and the 700 Club. Member of board of publications, Baylor University.

MEMBER: International Bible Society (member of board of directors), American Association of Christian Counselors (member of board of directors), Overcomers Outreach (member of board of directors), National Speakers Association.

AWARDS, HONORS: Honorary doctorates from University of Hawaii at Manoa and California Graduate School of Theology, both 1991; named Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year, Inc. magazine, 1993; inducted into National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame; three Golden Medallion Awards for writing excellence.

WRITINGS:

NONFICTION

(With Tim Timmons) Hooked on Life: From Stuck to Starting Over, Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1985, revised edition, 1989.

Growing Up Addicted: Why Our Children Abuse Alcohol and Drugs and What We Can Do about It, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1987.

(With Jerry Arterburn) How Will I Tell My Mother?: A True Story of One Man's Battle with Homosexuality & AIDS, Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1988, revised and expanded edition, 1990.

(With David Stoop) When Someone You Love Is Someone You Hate, Word, Inc. (Dallas, TX), 1988.

(With Jim Burns) Drug-Proof Your Kids: A Prevention Guide & an Intervention Plan, Focus on the Family (Pomona, CA), 1989, revised edition published as Drug-Proof Your Kids: The Complete Guide to Education, Prevention, Intervention, Regal Books (Ventura, CA), 1995.

(With Jack Felton) Toxic Faith: Understanding and Overcoming Religious Addiction, Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1991, published as Faith that Hurts, Faith that Heals, Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1992.

Addicted to "Love": Recovering from Unhealthy Dependencies in Romance, Relationships, and Sex, Servant Publications (Ann Arbor, MI), 1991, published with study guide, Vine Books (Ann Arbor, MI), 1996.

(With David Stoop) The Angry Man: Why Does He Act that Way?, Word, Inc. (Dallas, TX), 1991.

(With Carl Dreizler) Fifty-Two Simple Ways to Say "I Love You," Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1991.

(With David Stoop) The War Is Over but Children Still Have Questions, Tyndale (Wheaton, IL), 1991.

(With David Stoop) The Life Recovery Bible, Tyndale (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

(With David Stoop) The Twelve-Step Life Recovery Devotional, Tyndale (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

Hand-Me-Down Genes and Second-Hand Emotions, Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1993.

(With Jim Burns) When Love Is Not Enough, Focus on the Family (Colorado Springs, CO), 1993.

Winning at Work without Losing at Love, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1994.

(With Mary Ehemann and Vivian Lamphear) Gentle Eating (includes video and audio cassettes), Oliver-Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1994.

(With Jim Burns) Steering Them Straight, Focus on the Family (Colorado Springs, CO), 1995.

(With Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier) The Complete Life Encyclopedia: A Minirth Meier New Life Family Resource, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1995.

(With Frank Minirth and Paul Meier) Miracle Drugs, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1995.

(Compiler) The Power Book: Spiritual Insights for Achieving Excellence: A Daily Companion, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1996.

Surprised by God: Experiencing Grace from the God of Second Chances, Focus on the Family (Colorado Springs, CO), 1997.

(With Connie Neal) The Emotional Freedom Workbook: Take Control of Your Life and Experience Emotional Strength, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1997.

(With Frank Minirth and Paul D. Meier) Safe Places: Finding Security in the Passages of Your Life, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1997.

(With David Stoop) Seven Keys to Spiritual Renewal, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1998.

Five Minute New Testament: With Tools for Daily Reflection, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1999.

(With Paul D. Meier and Frank Minirth) Mastering Your Moods: Understanding Your Emotional Heights, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1999.

(With Meg J. Rinck) Avoiding Mr. Wrong (and What to Do If You Didn't): Ten Men Who Will Ruin Your Life, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2000.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation: One Victory at a Time, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

(With Jack Felton) More Jesus, Less Religion: Moving from Rules to Relationship, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

(With Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier) The Spiritual Life Guide: Biblically Based, Medically Sound Solutions to All of Life's Challenges and Passages-Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Daybreak (Emmaus, PA), 2000.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Every Woman's Desire: Every Man's Guide to … Winning the Heart of a Woman, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2001.

(With Meg J. Rinck) Finding Mr. Right (And How to Know When You Have), Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2001.

(With David Stoop) 130 Questions Children Ask about War and Terrorists, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2002.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Every Young Man's Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual Temptation, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2002.

(With Paul Meier and Robert L. Wise) Fear Less for Life: Break Free to Living with Hope and Confidence, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2002.

(With Angela Hunt) Flashpoints: Igniting the Hidden Passions of Your Soul, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2002.

The God of Second Chances: Experiencing His Grace for the Rest of Your Life, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2002.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Every Young Man's Battle Guide: Weapons for the War against Sexual Temptation, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Every Woman's Desire Workbook: How to Win Your Wife's Heat—Again and Forever: A Guide for Personal or Group Study, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Preparing Your Son for Every Young Man's Battle: Honest Conversations about Sexual Integrity, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Jesse Florea) Young Believer 365: Devotions to Help You Stand Strong 24/7, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2003.

(With Carol & Gary Wilde) Young Believer Case Files: [True Stories of Young Believers], Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2003.

(With others) Being God's Man—As a Satisfied Single: Real Men, Real Life, Powerful Truth, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Being God's Man—By Pursuing Friendships: Real Men, Real Life, Powerful Truth, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Being God's Man—In Leading a Family: Real Men, Real Life, Powerful Truth, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Being God's Man—In the Face of Temptation: Real Men, Real Life, Powerful Truth, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Being God's Man … in the Search for Success, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Being God's Man—In Tough Times: Real Men, Real Life, Powerful Truth, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Every Man, God's Man: Every Man's Guide to—Courageous Faith and Daily Integrity, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Kenny Luck and Todd Wendorff) Every Man, God's Man Workbook: Pursuing Courageous Faith and Daily Integrity, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2003.

(With Shannon Ethridge) Every Young Woman's Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2004.

(With Shannon Ethridge) Every Young Woman's Battle Workbook: How to Pursue Purity in a Sex-Saturated World, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2004.

(With Ginger Garrett) Lose It for Life for Teens: The Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Solution, Integrity Publishers (Nashville, TN), 2004.

(With Bill Farrel) The One Year Book of Devotions for Men on the Go, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Pam Farrel) The One Year Book of Devotions for Women on the Go, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Fred Stoeker, Brenda Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey) Every Heart Restored: A Wife's Guide to Healing in the Wake of a Husband's Sexual Sin, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2004.

(With Fred Stoeker, Brenda Stoeker, and Mike Yorkey) Every Heart Restored Workbook: A Wife's Guide to Healing in the Wake of a Husband's Sexual Sin, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2004.

(With Fred Stoeker and Mike Yorkey) Every Man's Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God?, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2004.

(With Debra Cherry) Feeding Your Appetites: Take Control of What's Controlling You, Integrity Publishers (Nashville, TN), 2004.

(With Linda Mintle) Lose for Life: The Total Solution—Spiritual, Emotional, Physical—for Permanent Weight Loss Integrity Publishers (Nashville, TN), 2004.

(With Fred Stoeker, Kenny Luck, and Mike Yorkey) Every Young Man, God's Man: Confident, Courageous, and Completely His, WaterBrook Press (Colorado Springs, CO), 2005.

Healing Is a Choice: Ten Decisions that Will Transform Your Life & Ten Lies that Can Prevent You from Making Them, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2005.

(With David Stoop) Boiling Point: Understanding Men and Anger, W Publishing Group (Nashville, TN), 2006.

Contributor to periodicals, including Christian Counseling Today and Decision. Contributor to videotapes, including Beyond Regret: Entering into Healing and Wholeness after an Abortion, produced by Charity Spatzeck-Olsen and directed by Hans Spatzeck-Olsen, Paraclete Video Productions, 2002.

"ON TOUR" SERIES; FICTION FOR YOUNG READERS

(With Angela Hunt) Noah, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Angela Hunt) Paige, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Angela Hunt) Shane, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Angela Hunt) Taz, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Angela Hunt) Josiah, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

(With Angela Hunt) Liane, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 2004.

ADAPTATIONS: Hooked on Life: From Stuck to Starting Over, a series of lectures by Tim Timmons and Arterburn based on the book of the same title, was released on audio cassette, Oliver-Nelson, 1985.

SIDELIGHTS: A nationally known speaker and radio personality on Christian issues and lifestyle, Stephen Arterburn also founded the New Life Clinics. He has written a number of Christian-oriented life guides for men, women, and young people on topics such as faith, sexual temptation, dating, married life, parental issues, and relationship difficulties. One such book is Healing Is a Choice: Ten Decisions that Will Transform Your Life & Ten Lies That Can Prevent You from Making Them. In this guide, Arterburn gives readers advice and real-life examples of those suffering from psychological and emotional problems, including himself, as a means of encouraging and challenging others to find the assistance they need to heal from their own difficulties. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly acknowledged that Arterburn "conveys a hopeful, encouraging tone to those in pain."

Arterburn sometimes addresses controversial topics in Christian circles. With Toxic Faith: Understanding and Overcoming Religious Addiction and More Jesus, Less Religion: Enjoy the Freedom of Authentic Faith Arterburn and Jack Felton address troubling problems for Christians and churches. The writers examine issues such as religion as an addiction, churches and ministers who take advantage of their followers, and the need for people and Christian communities to have what they term a "healthy faith." In a review of More Jesus, Less Religion in Publishers Weekly, a critic noted that "the book takes a compassionate but firm tone."

In addition to his nonfiction books, Arterburn teamed with Angela Hunt to write a number of Christian-themed novels aimed at a young audience. The six novels in the "On Tour" series look at each member in the five-piece YB2, a teen pop band. In Josiah, for instance, the title character is a new singer with YB2. Because he wears a brace to correct scoliosis, Josiah cannot execute the required dance moves and is afraid of losing his place in the band. The rest of the band learns of his plight, and the crisis is eventually resolved. Jennifer Mattson noted in Booklist that Arterburn and Hunt balance the Christian message with realism about the band and their experiences. Mattson wrote: "Even readers who aren't Christian may find this compelling."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 1, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of Josiah, p. 341.

Publishers Weekly, January 31, 2000, review of More Jesus, Less Religion: Enjoy the Freedom of Authentic Faith, p. 101; June 13, 2005, review of Healing Is a Choice: Ten Decisions that Will Transform Your Life & Ten Lies that Can Prevent You from Making Them, p. 49.

ONLINE

Ambassador Speaker's Bureau and Literary Agency Web site, http://www.stephenarterburn.ambassadoragency.com/ (November 19, 2005), biography of Stephen Arterburn.