Life in general can be hard as you begin to navigate your journey. During those hard times, one may feel that life is delaying you. Life may delay you, but it will never deny you. That’s a concept that can be hard for people to understand at times, as questions may arise in their heads about why life is unfair. They may stack up a list of qualities about themselves by saying, “I’m a good person,” “Why me?” “I treat people right,” or “I don’t even bother anybody.”
Sometimes, we want what we want so badly that we try to make it happen our own way, but doing it the wrong way can lead us down the wrong path. Those questions and choices can make one mad, upset, bitter, resentful, and even go against the odds of their character by caving in just as the enemy wants them to. Then there’s another side of the plot twist of being delayed but not denied. God teaches us how to persevere to get to the other side of the rainbow. It may seem gloomy, but there is a way, as specified in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans that I have for you, saith the Lord, the plan to prosper you, not to harm you.”
God can pull you out of the pit if you surrender and change your story in the plot through character development, inviting new characters, and new scenery and pathways in your story. And that’s what the life story of Morehead City, NC Mayor, Lee Anthony Stiles, illustrates.
Stiles’ cousin, Alexander Harriel Jr, has been raving about his cousin’s testimonial story to me for some time and even shared with me his “Came out of the Lion’s Den” story with the author of a post he shared on social media on July 13, 2026, reflecting on the enemy’s plan to take his life 19 years ago. His post, which was shared with me by Harriel Jr, was a moment of reflection in honor of the new initiatives in Morehead City, NC – the groundbreaking expansion of the town’s recreation center and the city approving the contract to keep the local baseball team in town. Reflecting in his Facebook post, Stiles looked at those moments as an investment in his community to serve the city, as well as an investment in the lives of people, the youth, and the future.
Let’s dive in…..
The early hood of Stiles’ life wasn’t always glitz and glamour, as he spent time in and out of prison on drug-related charges.
He told ABC 12 News that he started selling marijuana at the age of 16, cocaine by the time he was 18, which eventually led to his first cocaine charge at 20 years old.
Images of Mayor Lee Anthony Stiles while serving his prison sentence; Courtesy of Mayor Lee Anthony Stiles/Facebook
In 2007, Stiles almost lost his life. He screenshotted the story of the incident that had occurred in his hometown, in which he was left for dead after being shot seven times
The post reads:
“A man was shot multiple times in his car, just before 1:00 a.m. Thursday in the Carteret County town of Beaufort.
Police say the shooting happened at the corner of Pine and Craven streets. Chief Steve Lewis says 26-year-old Lee Anthony Stiles was sitting in his vehicle when several suspects approached him and shot him numerous times.
Stiles was taken to Carteret General Hospital and then airlifted to Pitt Memorial in Greenville, where he is in stable condition.
Lewis says incidents like this don’t often happen in quiet Beaufort. The last murders there were in 1994.
Lewis says they have a number of suspects they are looking at and several leads that may point to the shooting being drug- or gang-related.”
He was physically in Greenville’s “Pitt” Memorial Hospital to receive treatment for his wounds, but spiritually, he wasn’t left in the “Pit,” as God was writing the next chapter of his life. Those words coincide with his purpose as the author moves along with the story.
The 45-year-old received multiple blood transfusions and had to learn how to walk again. He told ABC 12 News outlet in 2018 that the second time he was sent to prison for his drug addiction, he surrendered completely to God.
Flash back to the aftermath of Stiles’ prison sentence: He allowed God to direct his life. Step by step, piece by piece, he reentered society, not despising small beginnings, from working a job at Mykono’s Grill in Morehead City at minimum wage to starting his Christ-centered nonprofit organization called, From the “Pit” to the Palace. His organization provides addiction prevention and awareness services to the community, in addition to hosting groundbreaking revivals in some of the most disparaged areas of the community, including behind the iron-clad bars of the local penitentiary.
Gradually, he continues to build his life brick by brick into a palace, not only through his impact with his nonprofit organization, but in other ways as he ingrained himself in the community to serve others. He worked as an (EYFP) Empowering Youth and Families Program Assistant through NC State University, serving Carteret and Onslow counties; Public Health Educator (Opioid Coordinator) for Onslow County Health Department; Public Health Educator II for Carteret County Government; and Vocational Specialist for Broadstep Behavioral Health.
Courtesy of Mayor Lee Anthony Stiles/Facebook and LinkedIn
In 2019, he became a licensed minister, being ordained by Bishop Donald Crooms at Faith Tabernacle of Praise Ministries, Inc. He served on the Reentry Council of Carteret County, where he serves as the Vice Chairman, according to the Morehead City website.
Even in his work, Stiles exemplifies great leadership qualities through his impact, ministry, and ability to connect with the lives of others. For two consecutive years, Lee has been voted by his peers as an influential member of the community for his work with multiple progressive groups he has been involved with, according to the Morehead City website.
While enrolled at Gardner-Webb College, Stiles was awarded the Senior Leadership Award, which was only awarded to one exemplary senior who showed admirable leadership traits in his community while maintaining a high GPA in their course of study.
He was able to attend seminary school at North Carolina Theological Seminary, with an Associate’s and Bachelor of Biblical Studies, while obtaining his Associate’s Degree in Human Services from Carteret Community College in 2020. Two years later, he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in that same field of study from Gardner-Webb University. He’s currently an MSW student at East Carolina University, according to his LinkedIn page.
Lee went on to elevate his humanitarian platform in the community by being sworn in to serve as a Morehead City councilman on December 12, 2023. He later submitted his name to run for mayor. Just when he thought he would lose the mayor’s race in a life-and-death, all-or-nothing situation, he ended up winning the race by one vote, even after a recount against incumbent Jerry Jones, who served as the town’s mayor for more than 25 years, according to CBS WNCT 9. In March 2026, he was sworn in for a four-year term as Morehead City Mayor.
His life is a testimony that God is not done just when you think your life is ruined and over.
“I could have died 19 years ago, but God saw fit to keep me here to be a blessing to others. That is why I never take this opportunity for granted,” he included in his post from two months ago.
“When I look at how far God has brought me, I cannot help but be grateful. My testimony is proof that your worst day does not have to be the end of your story,” he added.
God can take pain and turn it into purpose. He can take tragedy and turn it into testimony.
“I am thankful to still be here. I am thankful to serve. And above all, I give God all the glory because I know.”
Sometimes, you have to go through something in order to give your testimony about how enemy thought he could stop you, but couldn’t take you down.
People out there are waiting for a testimony in your test, in how you overcame your obstacles, so they can renew their hope and not give up, and endure to build their character. Hope this story of Stiles’ journey is proof that you can get out even stronger when you get out of the pit and rebuild your life brick by brick into a palace.
