Three Questions is a semi-regular series introducing individuals across the NAB by asking them about their story, their ministry, and what they are learning. This week, we hear from Liz Stevahn, a staff member at One-Eighty Programs in Lodi, California.
What’s your story?
I am from the little town of Lodi, California, in the Central Valley. Most of my family lives within a five-mile radius of each other, including my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, and brother. From the time I was in high school, I knew God was calling me to be in ministry in some capacity. I graduated from Biola University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education. Right after I graduated from Biola, I moved to Mexico to serve as a coordinator for short-term mission groups with a missions camp. These groups came from all over the United States and Canada to serve there. We partnered with local churches and ministries in Mexico and coordinated projects and programs in which the visiting groups could participate. After three years, God called me back to Lodi, and I’ve been serving with One-Eighty Programs for the last eleven years. In my time with One-Eighty, my roles have included Homework Club coordinator, Noon-League coach, intentional neighbor, behavior interventionist coach, teacher/admin of Horizon Preschool, and part of the teaching team for our church plant, Kingdom Community. I recently started pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Kairos University.
What has ministry been like for you?
Ministry in Lodi is more diverse than many people think. I’ve been an intentional neighbor in my apartment complex for eleven years. An intentional neighbor is someone who intentionally relocates into a neighborhood that has been identified by local law enforcement as having an ongoing struggle with crime, gang activity, poverty, and homelessness. Intentional neighbors are tasked with an expressed mission: to become a part of the community, to develop together – with that community – a culture of resiliency and hope, and ultimately to leverage the assets already existent within that community so they can thrive. My neighborhood is prominently comprised of Mexican and Middle Eastern families—and I LOVE it! These families have shown me so much grace and acceptance. When I first moved into this neighborhood, I was the only White person for six square blocks, and everyone was convinced I worked for the police or the government. After a few months of living in this neighborhood, I was no longer an outsider but part of the neighborhood family.
However, as with any neighborhood, all sorts of challenges come along the way. There is a high homeless population that lives across the street from me in a local park where we host one of our Homework Clubs. This is a neighborhood where drive-by shootings are a regular occurrence. There is a high presence of crime, drugs, and gang activity. Ministry gets very real when police knock at your door at 3:00 a.m. for a statement about a shooting in your vicinity on Easter morning.
But this neighborhood is home. Some of the bravest, most selfless, resilient people I know live here with me. Together, we can reflect the love God has for each person in the way we live our lives. While certainly there is a time and place to have direct spiritual conversations about God and his love and grace, I’ve found that some of the most sacred times have been in sharing meals around a table with my neighbors. All of a sudden, the intersection of life, cultures, spirituality, and joy is something we are all wading into together. I love being able to ask questions, to be asked questions, and to answer those questions honestly without being afraid of offending those around me.
We have a large group of students doing summer programming with us. On a regular day, we have 30 to 40 students ages 6–13 playing games, eating lunch, swimming, and all those fun summer activities. In that group, five different languages, four different cultures, three different religions, and two neighborhoods are represented. It is absolutely chaotic, messy, and beautiful. They are all learning how to communicate with one another, be teammates with each other, and swim together.
What are you learning?
I am someone who is a doer. I can make checklists in my head, but the details can become overwhelming. I was recently reminded about seeking joy and marveling at the things God is doing around me. So, in the moments of anxiety or when I am overwhelmed, remembering to stand in wonder becomes a practice. Ministry can be challenging and complicated, but it should also be joyful. It’s supposed to be fun. We’re supposed to stand in awe and wonder of all God is doing in, through, and around us. That continues to challenge me because, in our culture of going and going, finding moments to reflect and absorb the joy of the calling of ministry can be challenging. But, when I seek and hold on to the moments of joy, those are the moments I cherish.