3 Years of Yes!

An Update from Steve & Julie
August 2025

     Tears rolled down Julie’s face in the grocery store parking lot. She wasn’t crying because we got robbed or because someone was injured. She was crying because we hated the Safeway near our house. Change is hard. 

We had just moved from the land of milk and honey. The birthplace of the greatest grocery store ever invented:  H-E-B. And now we’d just paid four bucks for a mushy avocado.

Three years ago, we said yes.

Yes to moving across the country to a city where we knew absolutely no one. Zero.

​

That first year was hard. It was actual culture shock. Some people thought we lost our minds.

We thought we lost our minds. But we knew God had sent us here with a mission.

Over the next three years, we just kept saying yes.

​

Will you clean sidewalks in the Tenderloin?

Will you turn a basement into a ministry hub?

Will you help revitalize a historic church?

Yes. Yes. And yes.

The truth is, we are saying “yes” to living our lives open handed and faith filled.

Yes to rebuilding, relaunching, and dreaming again.

​

Yes to whatever God’s will might look like for us in San Francisco (even becoming Giants fans).

Here’s a recap of our three years of YES and Miracles:

YES – to becoming Lead Pastors of Lighthouse Church.

The church had been through it: 62 Sundays without a gathering, and a congregation scattered. Week by week, we’ve watched God breathe life back into a church the enemy tried to shut down. By God's grace we’ve baptized 5 new Christians and welcomed 75 people on Easter Sunday! San Francisco needs churches and we’re honored to pastor one of them.

YES – to starting The Basement

An underground space in the heart of the City where we gather as friends following Jesus together. No stage. No hype. Just honest conversations and dynamic training. We didn’t plan it. We stumbled into it. And now, every month, people from across the Bay have become family. We’re equipping leaders to fulfill the Great Commission in California and beyond.

YES – to launching AXIOS Network.

Born out of fire. Forged in the underground Church. AXIOS is our commitment to raise up resilient disciple-makers who don’t just believe the Gospel, they bleed for it. What started as a small conference in the Middle East has reached six continents, trained thousands, and now through AXIOS we’ve turned our attention to the U.S., sparking gospel movements and church growth across America.

YES – to creating The Curator Course.

Because everyone who wants to go to church is already going. If we want to reach new people, let’s set a table, light a fire pit, or share a meal. Slow conversations. Presence over preaching. We created this training to help everyday Christians build spaces where faith can be shared at the pace of trust. We’ve now trained over 30 curators who are starting “tables” all across the Bay.

YES – to forming The Leadership Table.

Ministry is tough. Leaders burn out. Discouragement and loneliness are real, especially in San Francisco. We formed the Leadership Table for graduates of our Curator Course to find community and prevent burnout through ongoing development, support, and healthy rhythms.

YES – to adopting an SRO in the Tenderloin.

Tens of thousands of people live in Single Room Occupancy hotels in the Tenderloin. It’s the city’s attempt to solve the homeless crisis. Once someone is rescued from the streets they are given a room. That’s where we come in. Through a partnership with YWAM, we are visiting, bringing food, listening, and praying for these often forgotten residents. We’re not trying to “fix” anyone, we’re just bringing light, dignity, and love to a place the world has overlooked. And it’s changed us.

​

EVEN YES – to learning to love Safeway.

God’s not done.

Thank you to those of you who’ve prayed, given, visited, partnered, and carried us in your hearts.

You’re a part of every story we’ve told above.

Would you pray about sowing a financial gift into the next 3 years of ministry?

Imagine what God can do!