Doing the Work that Brings Peace and Justice – Steve Mahr

By Marcos Leon

 

“Faithwalking is an opportunity to become fully aware of your trauma and the negative meanings you have made of it, for the purpose of making positive declarations that free you to live your fully alive life, alongside a community, doing the work that brings peace and justice here and now.” – Steve Mahr

Steve Mahr is a Faithwalker in Orange City, Iowa. In the video above and text below, Steve shares about his experience with Faithwalking. Click here to listen to a podcast episode featuring Steve on the connection between the Faithwalking journey and social justice..

Q: Describe something in your life that you were not aware of before Faithwalking. What was the impact of that lack of awareness in your life?

I don’t think I was aware of the extent to which my childhood trauma informed the way I showed up as an adult. I was aware of the history of anger in my family (specifically my dad and my grandpa) but unaware of how I made specific meanings of my childhood experiences. I felt so much shame that I couldn’t get a grip on my outbursts – especially at home. I felt like I would never get control of who I was, and that left me feeling defeated. The identity of shame I wore was that I was a deadbeat dad.

At our first Faithwalking retreat, when I said that out loud, I felt like I was choking up a tumor that had been weighing me down for my whole adult life. When the people I loved and trusted most rejected that “deadbeat dad” identity, it gave me the courage to do so as well. Over the next year or so, I leaned into the opportunity to create new, empowering meanings of my trauma which helped me live into an identity that is closer to my best self.

Q: What has changed through Faithwalking? How are you different?

I am less afraid.

I used to be afraid of screwing up. One of my negative vows was that unless I showed up as people needed or expected then I would be rejected. When I replaced that negative vow with the positive declaration of “I belong,” I became less afraid of naming my messes and working to clean them up. This has transformed my relationships with my kids, my wife, and my employees. What I once thought could deteriorate trust is actually what has strengthened the trust others have with me.

I used to feel the need to bulldoze others that disagreed with me. Generally in my life, those people had been bullies – both physically and verbally. I learned that if I could be louder and smarter, then I could run over anyone that disagreed with me. With Faithwalking, I have learned the power of being self defined. The emotions and opinions of others are not a threat to me. This frees me to listen better, to understand others more deeply, and to not worry about me losing the parts of me I love.

Q: Describe the vision you have of your best self.

I value relationship. I value justice. I value neighborly love. My hope is that I live a life that creates space for connection. My hope is that I live a life that agitates and disrupts the people and systems that perpetuate injustice. My hope is that I live a life that participates in the ongoing work of justice and peace in my community. And finally, my hope is that those in my community experience love when they are around me.

Q: Describe Faithwalking in your own words.

Faithwalking is an opportunity to become fully aware of your trauma and the negative meanings you’ve made of it for the purpose of making positive declarations that free you to live your fully alive life alongside a community doing the work that brings peace and justice here and now.

Q: What is the most helpful tool you have learned in Faithwalking?

“Most helpful” is hard. I think when I use only one of these tools, I find myself flailing a bit. When I use a few of these tools together, I am able to show up as my best self. Here is what I have found:

a. Spiritual Workout: When I keep my rhythm of spiritual practices, my mind and body are synced up in a way that allows me to engage authentically – my boundaries and awareness are at their best.

b. When I remember to stay curious, I am less likely to pounce on others and be reactive.

c. When I remember that vulnerability and authenticity is the key to belonging, I am able to show up as my best self, rather than hide or bulldoze. Living courageously has yet to backfire – even when I do it afraid.

Q: Tell us about you. Who are you? How did you connect with Faithwalking?

Before Faithwalking, I was in a rocky relationship with the church. I had been on and off in my twenties, but always with skepticism. By the time I turned 30 I had decided I was done. I saw no transformative power in the message of Jesus because I didn’t witness it in the life of the church. I grew up in a theologically conservative household. My dad was my youth pastor and then eventually an associate pastor at our church, alongside my uncle who was the senior pastor. I had leaned into my upbringing because it gave me a sense of belonging, until the foundational beliefs I held fell apart against the backdrop of the reality I was experiencing as an 18-20 year old kid.

In 2015, I was operating my own coffeehouse in Orange City – a very conservative town in NW Iowa. A guy named Mike, who was a new pastor in Orange City, started coming to our shop fairly regularly. Because of my disdain for the church, Mike made me curious, because he seemed to live a life that was less about theology and politics, and more about his values and staying connected with others. It bugged the shit out of me. So, I asked him questions, like, every day. I would grill him. Eventually, he said to me, “Dude, I love you, I love this shop, stop asking me questions. Come to church and make your own conclusions or let me just drink coffee and hang out.” I went home and told my wife about this encounter, and she said I should go and that she would go with me.

The first Sunday I showed up, the church was introducing a project to get folks connected with at-risk school kids – not for the purpose of getting them to church, but for the purpose of helping them feel loved and like they experienced belonging. Something about it was foreign and refreshing. I cried. I wondered if this church was for real. The sermon didn’t end with an altar call or spend time judging a group of people. The sermon called us to a life lived best when we were looking for the other and how we can love well. I was surprised.

Then Mike called me and asked me to have a beer with him. We met and he asked me to be a part of a five-year commitment which the church was embarking on that took a core group of people through a learning process about individual and group anxiety (Churches Learning Change w/ Jim Herrington and Trisha Taylor). The ultimate goal was to find ways to be the church in our community. I told him I needed to clear it with my wife before I made any commitments. When I told her, she laughed and told me if I didn’t commit then I couldn’t complain about the church ever again. She pointed out I was getting an opportunity to participate in the very thing that I was loudest about. So, I said yes.

It sucked. It was hard. It ripped open old wounds and made me face shame that I was perfectly content leaving buried. And it transformed my life. It was through this that I was introduced to Faithwalking. Faithwalking has kept that initial seed of transformation alive in me. I am a person who works daily to reject my shame voice, remember who I am, and stay in action alongside a community to participate in the work ahead of us. I am so incredibly thankful for Faithwalking. It truly revealed to me the transformative power of following Jesus – something I think I have been seeking my whole life – and it has literally saved my life.

 

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81 thoughts on “Doing the Work that Brings Peace and Justice – Steve Mahr”

  29. It’s wild how much those childhood scripts run the show until you actually stop to name them. Glad he managed to ditch that “deadbeat” label, that sounds heavy as hell to carry around.

  39. Steve’s words about becoming fully aware of our trauma really resonated with me—it’s such a brave and necessary step. I love how he connects that inner work to the outer work of peace and justice, which feels so holistic. It reminds me that creativity can also be a part of that healing journey, whether it’s writing, painting, or even making music. Sometimes I use an AI Music Generator to create a soundtrack for my reflection time, and it helps me stay present. It’s amazing how art can support the soul’s work in unexpected ways. Thank you for sharing Steve’s story.

  40. This piece really resonated with me, especially the idea that becoming aware of our trauma is the first step toward living a fully alive life. It’s so easy to go through the motions without ever questioning the negative stories we tell ourselves. I appreciate how Steve connects personal healing with the larger work of peace and justice, reminding us that inner transformation and outer action are deeply linked. For anyone who wants to capture and revisit these kinds of powerful conversations, a shownotes generator can be a practical way to keep the insights close. It made me think about how often I listen to podcasts but forget the key takeaways. This is definitely a conversation I’ll be reflecting on for a while.

  41. Steve’s words about becoming fully aware of our trauma really hit home for me. It’s so easy to go through life without realizing how much our past shapes our present reactions and relationships. The idea of making positive declarations to free ourselves, especially within a supportive community, feels both challenging and deeply hopeful. It reminds me of how important it is to have practical tools for our personal growth journeys. For instance, when organizing community events or group reflections, using a bulk qr code generator can help share resources and readings effortlessly with everyone. It’s a small but meaningful way to support the work of bringing peace and justice into our daily lives.

  42. I really appreciated Steve’s honest reflection on how Faithwalking helped him see the trauma he’d been carrying without realizing it. That idea of naming the negative meanings we’ve attached to our past, and then actively replacing them with positive declarations, feels so powerful. It reminds me of how much our internal rhythms shape our external actions—when we’re out of sync, everything feels harder. I’ve found that having a simple, steady tool like an online metronome can help me reset my own pace when I’m feeling scattered. It’s a small thing, but it creates space to breathe and refocus on what matters. Thanks for sharing this journey—it’s given me a lot to think about.

  43. This piece really resonated with me, especially the idea that becoming fully aware of our trauma is the first step toward living a fully alive life. I’ve seen in my own journey how the stories we tell ourselves about past hurts can quietly shape our present choices. It takes courage to sit with that awareness, but the freedom Steve describes sounds worth every bit of the effort. When I need a moment to recenter and reflect, I sometimes turn to a simple tool like Online Guitar Tuner to help me slow down and find a bit of harmony. Thanks for sharing this powerful testimony—it’s a good reminder that peace and justice start within each of us.

  44. This piece really resonated with me, especially the idea that becoming aware of our trauma is the first step toward living fully alive. I’ve been on a similar journey of self-reflection, and it’s amazing how much hidden baggage we carry without realizing it. The connection between inner healing and outer peace and justice is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. By the way, if you ever share personal photos or stories online, it’s worth checking out AI metadata remover to keep your location and other details private. It’s a small step that can protect your peace in a digital world. Thanks for this thoughtful post—it’s given me a lot to sit with.

  45. Steve's words about becoming fully aware of our trauma really hit home for me. I think so many of us walk around with these hidden wounds that shape how we show up, without ever realizing it. The idea of making positive declarations to break free from those negative meanings feels both scary and liberating. It's a reminder that healing isn't just an internal process, but something that happens in community. If you're someone who likes to journal or reflect on your own journey, you might find PicText – Screenshot Text Editor handy for capturing quotes or passages that resonate with you from articles like this one. I know I'll be re-reading this piece a few times to let it sink in.

  46. I really appreciated how Steve talked about becoming aware of the trauma and the negative stories we carry—it hit home for me. That idea of making positive declarations to free yourself, especially alongside a community, feels so much more doable than trying to do it alone. It made me think about how often I keep my own reflections scattered in random notes, which is why I've started using ProtectedNotepad to jot down those small breakthroughs privately. There's something grounding about writing things out and keeping them safe, even if just for a moment. Thanks for sharing this conversation—it's a good reminder that peace and justice start with our own inner work.

  48. It’s refreshing to hear someone lay it all out like this. Owning our traumas is tough, but it sounds like Faithwalking is a legit pathway to growth. For something light, check out this tool that might also help with building connections—just a side note, ya know?

  49. This piece really resonated with me, especially the idea that becoming aware of our trauma is the first step toward living fully alive. I’ve seen in my own life how the stories I tell myself about past hurts can quietly shape my reactions and relationships. It’s encouraging to read about a community that walks alongside each other in that kind of honest work. Sometimes, though, the mental images we carry are just as blurry as old photos, and clearing them up can feel overwhelming. If you’re ever looking for a small, practical way to bring more clarity to your day, you might find it helpful to unpixelate image online free —it’s a simple tool that can make a fuzzy picture a little sharper, much like this article does for our inner lives.

  50. Steve’s words about becoming fully aware of our trauma really hit home for me. It’s so easy to go through life without noticing the stories we’ve told ourselves, and his journey sounds both brave and freeing. I love how he connects that inner work to outer peace and justice—it makes the whole process feel so much more meaningful. Speaking of clarity and step-by-step progress, I’ve found that sometimes having a simple tool to work through a puzzle can mirror that same kind of patient unraveling. If you ever need a break to reset your mind, a Cube Solver can be a fun way to practice following instructions one step at a time. Thanks for sharing this powerful perspective, Steve.

  51. This is such a practical angle on finding peace—removing visual noise really does help clear the mind. If you’re ever checking an old monitor or TV for distractions, a full black screen test is handy for spotting dead pixels before they annoy you later. Thanks for the thoughtful post.

  52. The call for peace and justice often starts with preserving our shared stories and creations. For those documenting physical artifacts or designs, keeping files accessible is key. I’ve found a reliable 3d convert tool that works right in the browser, which makes it easier to share models without compromising privacy. Practical steps matter.

  53. I recently stumbled upon Steve Mahr’s insights on Faithwalking and it was a game-changer for me. I never realized how deeply my past traumas had shaped my worldview until I started this journey. It’s incredible how awareness can lead to such profound positive declarations, and I’m excited to see the changes in my life. This really resonates with the transformative power of the Character Turnaround Generator, which helps individuals like me to redefine their character and move towards a more positive path.

  54. Steve Mahr’s description of Faithwalking highlights how individuals can uncover trauma meanings to promote peace and justice. Notably, I discovered the concept of ‘negative meanings’ made of trauma, which had a profound impact on my understanding of personal and societal healing processes. Engaging with a depth map generator helps visualize these complex narratives in a more tangible way.

  55. Steve’s honesty about carrying the identity of a “deadbeat dad” really struck me. The image of choking up a tumor at that first Faithwalking retreat captures something I’ve felt too—how naming our shame out loud can be the first step toward freedom. I’ve seen in my own family how unexamined trauma from one generation shapes the next, often in ways we don’t recognize until we’re in a safe community. What encourages me most is his statement that he is “less afraid” now; that feels like a truer measure of healing than any dramatic breakthrough. Thank you for sharing this, Steve—it gives me hope that new, empowering meanings are possible.

  58. Steve Mahr提到在Faithwalking中承認自己的創傷標籤，這讓我想到那些把熱門新聞轉成歌曲的作品，也能用一種較輕鬆的方式為情緒找到釋放出口；如果你想看看這類音樂是如何呈現的，可以試試ScoopRYM。

  60. op37 App ကို official download entrance မှသာ ဒေါင်းလုဒ်ဆွဲရန် အကြံပြုပါသည်။ မသိသော APK link များနှင့် third-party website များကို သတိထားပါ။

  69. Steve Mahrが「特定の意味づけを書き換える」という言葉を出していたのが印象的だった。子供のころから家族の中で育んできた「自分はダメな親」という意味づけを、そのまま成人後に引きずってしまっていたという話は、実際に名前を変えてみるとどう変わるのか、と思わず聞きたくなった。私も自分の周りで同じパターンを見ることがあるので、気になる state and season field guides で少し気分転換もしたい。

  73. Steve’s experience of admitting mistakes to his employees shows how openness can build trust. Still, his conclusion that courage has never backfired needs a boundary: being honest does not mean sharing every private struggle at work. My work is elsewhere: I help run a free invoice generator called Invosmith for contractors and repair shops.

  74. Steve Mahr’s concept of Faithwalking is revolutionary, offering an avenue for deep personal healing through community and action. The idea of becoming aware of trauma and transforming it into positive change is not just impactful but timely in today’s world. This aligns perfectly with the innovative solutions like car jump ai generator, which, much like Faithwalking, encourages individuals to find new, unexpected ways of expression and engagement.

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