As the youngest child in an alcoholic family, Steve Sparling battled tremendous odds to be where he is today. When he was seven years old, his father, an alcoholic, left his wife and four children and disappeared for twenty-two years. Through the power of personal choice and the power of the Gospel, Steve’s life was changed. 

In 1995, Steve Sparling founded "Steve Sparling Ministries" (SSM) where he presented the reality of drug use, addition and success stories through a series of school assemblies, media presentations, and seminars. Steve challenged teens to swim upstream in a youth culture which endorses drug and alcohol abuse and which has led to frightening statistics among young people. SSM has spoken to over 50,000 in this format, in Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Russia.

For the past ten years, we have established a strong presence within the city of Oshawa and Region of Durham. Through a series of summer barbeques, summer camps and youth programs in subsidized housing neighborhoods, food programs, and more, we have established a connection with many individuals living on the streets, struggling with addiction and others who just needed a place to belong. 

In 2019, we began an inner-city church service to meet the spiritual needs of those in the City of Oshawa, and also support for people's mental health. At this weekly service we serve hot meals, provide clothing, basic necessities and life coaching. Our service originated with a group of five volunteered and a about twenty attendees. Today, our service has grown in size. Every Sunday afternoon, our team serves 75-100. We are so excited to have already seen the transformation change in the lives of people in the inner city and are looking forward to what the future holds for us and our city. We have also begun to expand our reach to the Town of Cobourg as well.

In 2025, we rebranded to "LIFE Ministries" to better reflect what we bring to the inner city of Oshawa - life. 

LIFE Ministries, as a division of Steve Sparling Ministries (SSM) better reflect the purpose and our passion. John 10:10 says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full." We are excited for this next chapter and look forward to seeing life restored into our community.