Leading People to Saving Faith

Who We Are

Our Mission is Simple:
Lasting Commitments, One Step At A Time

We exist to help people better understand the Gospel message to make an informed commitment to Christ.

His Message, His Method

God calls EVERY GENERATION to rediscover the unchanging message of salvation found in the Bible and present it in culturally relevant ways.

This unchanging message must be communicated with Bible-based methods.

Watch Short Video:

Lincoln Murdoch, Executive Director of SUTL, explains the 5 steps (3 minutes)

Listen to Sermon Audio:

Pastor Shawn Dugan: 5part sermon series on the 5 steps of Step Up To Life!

Timeless Truths…Culturally Relevant.

SUTL Affiliate Church Program

A number of churches and ministries desire a deeper relationship with the SUTL team and so our Affiliate Churches Program addresses that need.

SUTL can provide coaching and consultations, Sunday service and sermon evaluations, church leadership training, problem solving, Sunday pulpit fill-in, ordination and licensing preparation and more.

Click here to see more details on our Affiliate Church Program brochure.

 Meet Our Team

  • Lincoln Murdoch

    Executive Director

  • Nick Bank

    Assistant Director

  • Jennifer Murdoch

    Executive Assistant

The Founder

In February, 1957, Pastor Elmer Murdoch preached a sermon entitled, “Steps Leading to Salvation” and distributed his notes to the congregation.

Although he didn’t know it at the time, this sermon became the seed for the evangelistic booklet, Step Up To Life.

Beginning with the first edition in 1971, it has been translated into 80 languages and "specialty" versions.

Now there are over…

  • 14 million copies

  • in 75+ countries

  • on 4 continents

Step Up To Life, founded by Elmer Murdoch, offers faith sharing tools and training for tens of thousands of lives around the world.

Executive Director

Lincoln Murdoch is the Executive Director of Step Up to Life and son of the founder, Elmer Murdoch.

He is an experienced pastor, author and athlete! Click on the categories below to read more about his life!

  • Lincoln is a fifth generation pastor who graduated from Asbury College in 1979 and Asbury Theological Seminary in 1982 in Wilmore, Kentucky. He served on the pastoral staff of Trinity Interdenominational Church in Omaha, Nebraska from 1982 – 2000, eight years as Trinity’s youth pastor and 10 years leading Trinity’s global outreach as Missions Pastor.

    He served as President of Antioch Network in Phoenix from 2000 – 2007, planting a church through this network in 2004 named All Nations Church Phoenix. He also helped to plant All Nations Church Omaha in 2008 and served as the Lead Pastor there until 2014.

  • Lincoln is the author of Launching the Great Go-Mission and accompanying resource manual by the same title. The book was designed to assist local churches in recruiting, training, and sending, their own members on short term mission teams with a strong discipleship focus during the whole process. He also authored See You At The Finish, outlining eight principles of spiritual endurance.

  • Lincoln has been married to his college sweetheart for 44 years. Lincoln and Jennifer have two adult children, Kyle and Kristi and a wonderful son-in-law, Jack who all make their homes in Omaha. Their beloved Border Collie, Otis and a Pembroke Corgi, Tater Todd complete their hectic home.

  • Lincoln is passionate about Jesus being lifted up in the local church and throughout the nations, particularly in the areas of the world’s least reached or totally unreached people groups.

    He helped found the P.A.N. network in 1995 which is a network of churches, missions organizations and individuals who have targeted one particular unreached people group in Central Asia.

    He has has traveled to over 40 nations in the world! His life is dedicated to seeing the local church envisioned and mobilized that it might rise up to full maturity and embrace its God given mandate to fulfill the Great Commission.

  • Lincoln is an accomplished endurance athlete and has competed for 40+ years in marathons and triathlons. He has finished three 140 mile Ironman triathlons including the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. In 2013 he finished 6th in the world in his age group at the Triathlon Championships in London, racing for Team USA. He has won Three National Championships. He’s a 14 time USA Triathlon All American. Lincoln often speaks on the subject of spiritual endurance based on the lessons he’s learned from these events.

Assistant Director

Nick Bank has had the privilege of preaching and teaching the Bible on a regular basis for over 20 years in the roles of Youth Pastor, Worship Pastor, Associate/Teaching Pastor, and Lead Pastor.

Along with a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry and Bible from Grace University, and a Master’s degree in Theology (Th.M) from Dallas Theological Seminary, he is certified with the Evangelical Training Association as a graduate teacher, and is a student at Talbot School of Theology pursuing a Doctorate in Advanced Biblical Preaching. His passion is for people to come to know Jesus, and apply His truth to everyday life. 

Nick and his wife Kellie have been married since 2003, and have two wonderful children. 

Nick enjoys spending time with his family, writing, music, hiking, Asian food, and baseball.

 Meet Our Board

  • JULIE SCHENZEL BOWES

    Board Chairwoman

  • GARY KOENIG

    Advertising Agency Owner – Retired

  • CHERYL PENNER

    Ministry Office Administrator,
    PassageWay Church

  • RAY DOTZLER

    Graphic Design Studio Owner

  • JAISON SAMUEL

    Engagement Leader,
    Midwest Rockies Advisor Group at Thrivent

  • BRANDON KINNIE

    Owner,
    Alliance Sports Training & Faith Jump™️