Life in the Son

CLI student, Beth Stevenson, has realized her calling after running away from it for 15 years, Stevenson has started a ministry called Life in the Son.

Read her story below:

I am Beth Stevenson, I am from the United States, and I have lived here all of my life. I was the baby of six kids, in the small town of Alliance, Ohio. I attended church all my life but didn’t really come to know God, and have a relationship with Him, until 3 years ago.

My father’s death and a variety of other things, that God allowed to happen in 2013, lead me back to God and the plan He had for my life. Little did I know He had been calling me into ministry for approximately 15 years. God has a way of doing things in his own time.

God had given me a vision of what type of ministry I would be leading early on, but I ran from it. Finally, in 2015, I said yes to God and the plan He had for my life. Doing ministry, in Alliance, is such a great opportunity to reach the lost souls in the area. We are a free country and are truly blessed to be so. We understand that some countries aren’t as fortunate.

I opened up Life in the Son Ministries. Life in the Son is a coffee shop/soup kitchen that serves the less fortunate. We are a donation based ministry and run on the nickels and dimes that are put in our offering jar daily.
I am truly living my dream and I give God all the praise, honor, and glory for it. My title is Pastor. We don’t necessarily have a sanctuary in our building. The streets are our sanctuary. We believe in being the hands and feet of Jesus. We go wherever we’re called.

God has worked with me and has raised me up to be a conqueror and to be motivated to lead with compassion, but also with love. I’ve come through enough things that had the power to destroy me and the ministry, which has made me determined to do what God has called me to do, even if it hurts sometimes. When God calls you, He doesn’t let it rest.
I have unique challenges every day in the ministry I do. We work with a lot of less fortunate people by feeding them a meal, as well as the word of God. We deal with the mentally ill, the homeless, small families that struggle, veterans that fall through the cracks, and also city workers that need lunch and devotions.

February will be 2 years in ministry for us and we are just now getting support from our local church. I don’t get a lot of support from local congregations, being a woman in a pastoral position. I find myself trying to get the point across that we are ALL called, it doesn’t matter if we’re male or female. I do attend the local pastor’s meeting. At these meetings, I am respected for my position. I try to remember I’m not called to fit in.

My family has supported me greatly and I get a lot of respect for my ministering goals. My kids really love the ministry and have a heart for the clientele we serve. They have really taken part in serving in the ministry and that makes me happy. Our children have taken part in everything from painting, lettering windows, helping to serve meals, and even outreach events. It blesses me to see what God is doing in their lives, as we serve. The ministry has brought us together in so many ways. I thank God every day for the restoration he’s bringing. Someday, I can see us opening a second location and serving in another neighboring population.

CLI was literally a Godsend. I needed accountability in the area of studying and knowing God’s word. I was blessed to find the training offered here at CLI. I look forward to the doors that will be opening for me during and after my training is complete. God is so faithful to give the things we need, right when we need them. This scholarship is a big door that’s been opened and I thank CLI for everything. God Bless this ministry richly.

Please pray for strength while in ministry, as well as funding. Thank you.

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