Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Stegman.
Hi Julie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I got excited about the idea of church planting (what we call starting new churches) when I thought about how different people are drawn to different expressions of faith and worship. If we want to see more people have the opportunity to be a part of church communities, then we need more faith communities that meet the needs of many different places and people.
My husband and I started Resurrection City Church in Saint Paul with the vision to see people, our city, and the world made new in Jesus, our savior and king. We’re excited about the idea of renewal, and want to serve the community around us and see it thrive and flourish.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The pandemic has definitely been a struggle! We, like many other communities, had to move to meeting online for a while when the pandemic first hit. But I was so encouraged by how our community came together to support one another. Our church has small groups that meet together weekly and those groups continued to provide friendship and community for the people within our church, even through zoom.
Those obstacles have also given us many opportunities to serve the community over the past few years. After the riots in Saint Paul in 2020, we helped out with local efforts to provide food for neighbors and clean up the damage. When our church first started, we used to meet in Hamline Elementary school, and even though we don’t meet there now, we’ve been able to stay connected and help out by providing school supplies and assisting with other projects. Overall, we’ve learned to be flexible and adapt over the past year and a half!
As you know, we’re big fans of Resurrection City Church. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We really value community because we don’t think you were meant to go through life alone. There are plenty of ways to connect with others and find a place where you feel like you belong. Our vibe is sort of like the old Olive Garden line: “when you’re here, you’re family”.
We also try to hold space for those who have questions or doubts because we recognize that those are very real experiences, and we think God can use them in our lives to help us grow. You don’t have to feel like you have everything figured out to be a part of our community.
If you’re interested in checking Resurrection City out, we meet at 9:30am on Sunday mornings at 1536 W Minnehaha Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55104 or you can check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjClOz1F3uFq8BKd02ztTCA.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was in dance, choir, and theater, so being up in front of people was never an issue for me.
I’ve always been passionate about the things and people that I love, and I think that’s what gives me the determination and focus to do what I do now.
Contact Info:
- Email: julie@rescitychurch.org
- Website: https://www.rescitychurch.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rescitychurchmn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rescitychurchmn/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjClOz1F3uFq8BKd02ztTCA
