Searching for ways to help

Outreach pastor Lisa Deutsch seeks to help people find their gifts

Lisa Deutsch poses at her Cole County home. Deutsch just began work in her new capacity as outreach pastor at First Assembly of God, where she previously has served as associate pastor.
Lisa Deutsch poses at her Cole County home. Deutsch just began work in her new capacity as outreach pastor at First Assembly of God, where she previously has served as associate pastor.

Lisa Deutsch has worked for years in Jefferson City, using her position to find new ways to help the community and is now looking forward to an even more active role.
Deutsch just began work in her new capacity as outreach pastor at First Assembly of God, where she previously has served as associate pastor. With her new position, Deutsch plans to reach out to as many people as possible, looking to go door-to-door in low-income areas asking how she and others can help.
"We just want to take an area that's more rundown and reach out to them, and let them know somebody cares, and we'll talk to you and we'll help you," Deutsch said. "How can we help you? How can we be a blessing to you?"
But this wasn't the path she had originally pictured herself walking down.
For years, Deutsch traveled the world working for the U.S. government. It was in those travels that she encountered a group of missionaries when she was in the Middle East and, ultimately, was "saved."
The transition wasn't easy. Deutsch said she fought against the revelation and tried to continue in her day-to-day life but finally came to a decision. While in a hotel room in Asia, Deutsch said she spent hours praying, trying to find some sign or recognition someone was listening. After a while, she went for a walk, encountering a young gang beating up two others. She got involved and learned the two victims were young Christians, and that's when she knew for sure.
Deutsch changed career paths, went back to school and wound up a missionary in Missouri with her husband, moving to Jefferson City eight years ago and joining the First Assembly of God staff.
Throughout that time, Deutsch said she focused on senior ministry, ways to engage older generations and even began a ministry for women at the Cole County Jail about a year and a half ago after learning there were only ones for men.
"I was challenged to start that one," Deutsch said with a laugh. "They needed women to come for the women - so we did."
Now, she has a group of about 10 women who go to the jail each week to minister to women. (Several organizations minister at the Cole County Jail, including House of Prayer and the Healing House.)
"We're changing lives, giving 'em hope," Deutsch said.
Deutsch said she's excited to work as outreach pastor. She wants to go to the areas in Jefferson City that need help and find ways to improve people's lives, noting she's always looking for volunteers to help. She said she wants to help people find their gifts and who they were meant to be.
"We just want to give people that opportunity and that hope," Deutsch said. "That's the kind of ministry Jesus wanted us to do - give people hope."