She Was a Teen Mom | Now She Leads a Movement

The journey from crisis to calling rarely follows a straight path. For Lisa Steven, what began in a small MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group would eventually transform into Hope House Colorado, a groundbreaking ministry serving hundreds of teen mothers annually. Her story reminds us that God’s plans often exceed our limited vision, turning our deepest struggles into platforms for His glory.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The weight of judgment falls heavy on teen mothers. They feel it in sideways glances at grocery stores, in whispered comments at doctor’s offices, and in the well-meaning but wounding words of those who assume their lives are over. Yet beneath these layers of shame beat hearts of mothers who desperately want to provide better lives for their children.

One young mother at Hope House exemplifies this reality. At age eight, she learned to drive by placing blocks on the pedals, sneaking money from her mother’s purse to buy food for her younger siblings. Now, as a teen mother herself, she carries not only the responsibility of her own child but the weight of generational trauma. Her story echoes countless others who come through Hope House’s doors, seeking not just help, but hope.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

The birth of Hope House emerged from tragedy—the death of a young mother in their teen MOPS group due to domestic violence. This heartbreaking loss revealed a devastating gap in services: Colorado had no safe place for parenting teen mothers to live and learn. What started as a simple suggestion in a committee meeting—”maybe we should open a home for teen moms”—has grown into a comprehensive ministry transforming hundreds of lives annually.

Today, Hope House Colorado operates a sprawling 15,000-square-foot resource center in suburban Denver, providing education, support, and most importantly, belonging. The residential program, though small, offers a safe haven to five or six mothers at a time, while the newly opened early learning center enables young mothers to pursue education and employment while their children receive quality care.

Yet the true transformation happens in moments many might overlook. It happens when a staff member bakes homemade brownies for a young mother who’s never had anyone make something special just for her. It happens in the quiet conversations where dreams long buried begin to surface. It happens when a teen mom realizes, perhaps for the first time, that God chose her specifically to be her child’s mother.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

The ministry’s impact reaches far beyond immediate needs. Many Hope House mothers have never witnessed a healthy marriage; their only exposure to married life comes through the staff members who serve them. They’ve never seen financial stability modeled or experienced the security of consistent love and support. Through comprehensive programming including GED preparation, college guidance, financial literacy, and mental health counseling, Hope House addresses not just current challenges but generational patterns.

One graduate’s story particularly illustrates this transformation. After years of couchsurfing and fleeing domestic violence, she found Hope House. Through tears, she shared how she’d never imagined herself worthy of pursuing education or dreaming of a career. Today, she’s completed her GED, enrolled in college, and breaking cycles of poverty that have gripped her family for generations.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Hope House’s vision continues to expand. New affiliate locations are emerging across Colorado and beyond, with Orange County, California, preparing to launch its first residential program. Each affiliate operates independently while receiving support, programming, and proven methodologies from the original model. As Lisa notes, citing Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” This spiritual foundation undergirds every aspect of the ministry’s growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed even greater needs among teen mothers, with increased rates of homelessness, domestic violence, and family addiction issues. In response, Hope House dreams of building an apartment complex to provide more stable housing options. It seems an impossible vision, but then, so did the original dream of Hope House.

For those sensing God’s call to ministry, Lisa’s journey offers powerful encouragement. She never completed college; her professional background consisted of retail work and home daycare. The current executive director of Hope House’s northern Colorado location was a hairstylist when God tapped her shoulder. Their stories remind us that God often works most powerfully through unlikely vessels.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The transformation at Hope House happens through relationships. Staff members walk alongside young mothers, demonstrating Christ’s love through consistent presence and unconditional acceptance. They celebrate small victories – a passed GED test, a child’s first steps, a saved dollar—knowing that each success builds confidence for bigger challenges ahead.

Hope House serves mothers until age 25, recognizing that lasting change takes time. The journey often involves steps forward and backward, victories and setbacks. Yet through it all, these young women learn that nothing—no mistake, no past trauma, no current struggle—can separate them from God’s love and purpose for their lives.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

As Hope House continues to grow, they remain focused on their core mission: creating places of belonging where teen mothers experience Christ’s transformative love. Each new mother who walks through their doors encounters not just programs and services but a community that believes in her potential and a God who specializes in fresh starts.

For those interested in supporting this vital ministry or learning more about their work, Hope House Colorado’s website (hopehousecolorado.org) offers ways to get involved. Lisa’s book, “A Place to Belong,” available on Amazon, provides deeper insights into this transformative journey from crisis to calling.

Remember, God still performs miracles today—not just in biblical times or distant lands, but in our own backyard, through ordinary people who dare to say yes to His extraordinary call. Each transformed life at Hope House testifies to this truth, reminding us that with God, every ending can become a new beginning.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).