On Fridays in Village Demier, laughter, music, and singing fill the air as villagers of all ages gather for youth group.

Right in the middle of it all—and far from home—is a graduate of Grace Emmanuel School, leading, encouraging, and energizing the crowd.

The road north

Volunteering with youth in northern Haiti was not quite where Stevenson, 26, pictured himself when he graduated from Grace Emmanuel School in 2021. He had begun studying computer science near his home in Source Matelas, but instability in Haiti continually disrupted those plans.

In the fall of 2022, gangs brutally attacked his neighborhood. Five months later, they returned—this time taking total control. His family was forced to flee, and he eventually relocated to Cap-Haïtien, near Haiti’s northern coast.

He resumed his studies and began putting down roots in a new place.

Then in late 2024, he got a phone call from his uncle, Pastor Derson.

A simple invitation

Derson had just begun leading ministry in Village Demier, about 20 miles from Stevenson’s new home.

“One Friday, Pastor Derson called me and said he was coming to pick me up so we could go,” Stevenson recalls.

What began as a simple invitation quickly became a regular commitment.

Today, Stevenson plays a central role in the Friday youth gatherings. He leads activities, energizes the kids, and helps create a space where they can learn, laugh, and grow together.

“He is a role model for the youth,” says Derson. “He makes the gospel feel accessible and practical. The children don’t just see someone leading activities—they see a young person like them living his faith with joy.”

Derson adds that Stevenson’s presence is magnetic—children often run to greet him before the program even begins, eager to sing and spend time with him.

He recalls a special moment one Friday when they arrived early. “Some of the younger kids came up to him, and he took out his phone and started recording a video while they sang songs he had taught them. It’s a beautiful memory.”

“I truly love what I do,” Stevenson says. “I enjoy it a lot. I’ve always loved being with youth and children.”

Walking alongside the youth

More than just leading games, Stevenson has become someone the youth admire.

“Many of them tell me they want to be like me,” he says. “They want to lead the way I do.”

Serving each week has deepened his own faith and challenged him to grow.

“This experience helps me work on myself and pushes me to always bring something new for the youth,” he says.

Derson says it is Stevenson’s authenticity that allows him to build real relationships with the youth.

“He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not,” Derson explains. “He speaks their language and understands their struggles because he has lived them too.”

Bringing out the best in others

“Stevenson has a patience that is very rare,” Derson adds. “He can recognize hidden talents in other young people and encourage them to use their gifts.”

Stevenson has already witnessed meaningful moments through his involvement. One that stands out came during Good Friday 2025, when the youth performed a play about the Lord’s Supper.

“They did such a great job—it surprised me,” he says, reflecting on their first experience doing something like that.

He describes the youth as motivated and eager, always ready to participate and engage.

An example of love

Despite the hardships that brought him north, Stevenson has found purpose in investing in the next generation. His hope is that the youth will continue to seek God, grow in character, and do everything with love—just as he demonstrates each week.

“Because of his simple and unconditional love, Stevenson is a strong bridge connecting lost youth to the hope found in Christ,” says his proud uncle, Derson.