Remembering my friend, Steve Legg (1967-2024)

I met Steve through his wife Bekah. At the time I was working in a lead role in a global mission organisation which was, on the face of it, the career role of my dreams. But I was also navigating two great hardships – the recent death of my daughter a few hours after she was born, followed by my then husband filing for divorce. Bekah met me in the middle of that barren place and what was meant to be a work meeting quickly turned into a long walk where our conversation bled into our home lives, and I unprofessionally broke down in front of what was essentially a complete stranger.

My own crumbling relationship with my nuclear family meant I felt the loss of my husband and in-laws keenly, but as I spoke with Bekah, I realised she and Steve had no such boundaries when it came to who they welcomed into their home.

After that one meeting, I was invited to spend a weekend at their house where I was under no obligation to do anything other than eat, sleep and cry.

After that one meeting, I was invited to spend a weekend at their house where I was under no obligation to do anything other than eat, sleep and cry. And eat, sleep, cry I did – with plenty of the latter. The first time I met Steve I was engulfed into the biggest and warmest hug and the whole weekend felt like an extension of that initial welcome. I was similarly embraced by their black, shiny coated lab who followed me everywhere and remained curled protectively at my feet, sensing my need for comfort.

That weekend I realised how incredible it was that I had been so openly invited. At the time both Bekah and Steve edited two Christian magazines – Liberti and Sorted – aimed at supporting women and men respectively, as well as being authors and custodians of various other “side hustles” that were each essentially, full-time jobs.

That weekend I realised how incredible it was that I had been so openly invited.

They are also parents to five girls. Not just five children; five girls. And I’m sure if you are parenting girls you will have some idea of how challenging this can be in this present generation and with all the societal issues presented to them. This was a second marriage for both Steve and Bekah and they co-parented alongside ex-partners with their home being a beautiful base for their blended family which included friends, boyfriends, refugees, various dogs and a few horses (though the latter not resident at their home).

Both Steve and Bekah delighted in large social gatherings and often welcomed the “strays” into their home for Christmas, New Year celebrations and any other opportunity to share a table together. I was one of those strays and remain forever grateful for the way they always made room for me. Though I initially started out writing for Liberti magazine, Steve was always on the lookout for opportunities for me to write for him at Sorted too. I love a press trip and when Steve found out I could ski, he sent me to cover the Freeride World Tour in Chamonix which had me witness death-defying moves by some of the best skilled skiers in the world.

I remember when I started dating someone after the divorce and being gently supported through those first tentative months where I struggled to navigate this newness following the break-up of my marriage. Steve showed such fatherly care for us both and, when the relationship ended, I was invited to join them and their friends for a group trip away where I was once again enveloped in warmth – food, love and lots of laughter.

My own cancer journey was pretty traumatic and both Steve and Bekah prayed for and checked in on me during that battle. When I heard that Steve had been diagnosed, my heart sunk. I was only too aware of the pain and trauma that the C word carries and the lasting effects of treatment. But that was just it, the treatment was what I envisaged as being the hardest thing for Steve and his family to endure.

I was wrong.

But Steve did live past the expectations of his doctors and the six months became a year as he continued to edit Sorted magazine, wrote another book and continued to tour doing his comedy magic shows around the country. Steve was always fully alive, living what I call a John 10:10 life right until the end. I’m so grateful to him and Bekah for their example of the real Church.

And as those of us who loved and were loved by them both, hold this precious family in our hearts and prayers, we also celebrate Steve and Bekah Legg as being the hands of Jesus, keeping their doors open to all who ever needed somewhere to call home.