Only God Stories

Kris Stevenson

Kris and Todd moved into their neighborhood in Downers Grove because they loved the community. Kris was teaching at Lyons Township High School when they moved in, and a colleague lived across the street. They had spent time on the quiet, tree-lined street and could easily imagine their young kids growing up there.

They've never regretted their decision. As Kris says, "The house is fine. The neighborhood is incredible."

But as their kids have grown up and moved out of the house, the nature of relationships on the street has changed. These days, it's less of a front-porch, kids-running-across-the-street kind of neighborhood. More of life happens behind privacy fences and in backyards. Kris and Todd still love where they live, but there are more barriers to engaging with their neighbors. Some are physical, like fences. Others aren't. People are busy, schedules are full, and there isn't always the margin to linger for an extra twenty minutes with a neighbor like there once was.

One way Kris is trying to live the ONLY GOD life is by intentionally tearing down the barriers that keep her from engaging with the people around her. As she's done so, she's been surprised by the opportunities God has created.

For Kris, tearing down barriers has looked like this:

Being interruptible – Life is busy, but Kris is trying to live as though every moment on her block is brimming with redemptive potential. That has meant choosing to stay attentive to the ways God might use an interruption in her schedule to create a moment for relationship.

Walking the dog with purpose – Kris's dog, Chance, loves people. She's begun to see their daily walks as opportunities to draw near to neighbors, hear about their lives, and deepen relationships.

Living with low walls herself – Kris grieves the perception that Christians are often walled off or judgmental. She wants people to know, through both her words and her presence, that her family loves Jesus and loves everyone always.

For the past few months, Kris and I have been swapping stories about what it looks like to live the ONLY GOD life in our own neighborhoods. One day, when we were scheduled to meet, she rushed in and announced with gusto, "I'm late because I was interruptible!"

There was a neighbor she'd been praying for but hadn't seen in a while. As she was pulling out of her driveway, she noticed them outside. She had a plan for her day, but she was tuned in to the nudging of the Spirit. So she pulled over. She allowed her plans to be interrupted. She tore down an internal barrier and drew close to a neighbor.

It was the right call.

Kris and Todd are working hard to tear down barriers. As they do, they're choosing to become carriers of the Gospel rather than barriers to it.

My Life Was Changed by Sean Howarter

Sean was my JV baseball coach at Valhalla High School in El Cajon, California, and a youth volunteer at my local church. I was an undersized, mediocre talent on his team. I was moderately connected at church, moderately high achieving in the classroom and just socially connected enough to fall through the cracks on all fronts.

But Sean had a superpower. He was one of those coaches who could sit next to you in a slow inning, or walk back to campus with you after practice, and ask, “So how are you really doing?”

And you actually wanted to answer. He cared about execution on the field but cared a whole lot more about the young men he lived his life alongside.

So, when I faced a season of teenage crisis, and started to pull back from everything, it was Sean who scooped me up and pulled me back into Christian community.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Sean lately.

Allie and I live in a quiet neighborhood that straddles the edge of Downers Grove and Westmont. We have toddlers, so we spend a lot of time walking. Some of our neighbors we know and share niceties with. Many we don't.

As we’ve been preparing for “ONLY GOD” as a church staff, we’ve been asking ourselves two questions: “What does it look like for us to go first?” and “What if God’s Kingdom came in Westmont and Downers Grove as it is in heaven?”

Those questions have taken me back to Sean. My life was transformed not in some grand moment, but by the faithfulness of a young guy who cared to see me and know me. He showed up every day and asked good questions—and ultimately pointed me to Christ.

So tonight, I’m going to walk down Williams Street and do my best to live like Sean did with me among my neighbors. I’m going to make sure I write down the neighbor kids' birthday so I can celebrate with him. I’m going to check in on Lois, whose husband had heart surgery this winter. We’re going to take banana bread to the new family on 7th Street I’m going to make sure that we adjust our route to the park so we can swing by Ruth and Evan’s house and make sure their lawn is mowed.

May God’s Kingdom come on Williams Street as it is in heaven.

Only God.