Who We Are
Trellis emerged from a group of leaders and pastors who had been praying for Costa Mesa for 15 years that were convicted it was time to move beyond prayer to more effective collaboration with one another as well as with other leaders in the city. In the process of convening leaders, developing partnerships, doing events, and establishing initiatives a strong team emerged.
Leaders in other cities started noticing what was happening in Costa Mesa and they began asking for help and insight to get movements started in their own cities. We are a team of practitioners who continue to work in our city but want to help stimulate and encourage church, business, and city leaders to work better together as they engage the city in which they exist.
Our Mission:
Our Vision:
The Body of Christ is leading the way in our cities facilitating collaboration that resolves the city's greatest challenges. Together they will have:
- Intentional, focused, regular, and united prayer efforts
- A neighboring network
- Regular and ongoing impact on the next generation
- Strategic organization and coordination that is overcoming the greater practical and societal problems in their city
Our Guiding Principles:
Relationship – It is hardwired into everything we do - Mark 22:37-39
Unity - It's the key to our mission being effective - John 17:23
Dignity - It empowers others to engage with us - Philippians 2: 3-4
Efficacy - It demonstrates what God can do when we work together - Colossians 3:23
Perseverance - It's what it takes to facilitate lasting change - 1 Cor. 13:7
Our Team:
IAN STEVENSON
Executive Director of Trellis
Ian Stevenson, the full time Executive Director of Trellis since fall of 2015, is responsible for expanding our capacity of the organization as the primary vision caster and strategy developer. A team-player at heart, he finds joy in team development, growth, and increase of effectiveness through his work with our board, staff and city leaders.
Prior to joining Trellis full-time, Ian was a pastor at The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, California, where he became the second full-time staff member, in 1989. For 27 years, he focused on ministry development, outreach and teaching to lead, manage, and grow the church from 40 to approximately 2,000. Holding a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University, Ian is an expert in volunteer mobilization and management and has an extensive background in strategic planning, budget preparation, goal setting, and facilitating partnerships.
Ian and his wife Terrilee have been married for 35 years, with 3 grown children and 7 grandchildren. They provide unconditional support and guidance for the Trellis team, as well as their adorable little encouragers. In their free time, the two enjoy riding motorcycles, hiking, back packing and working out.
ISABEL CARPENTER
Director of Operations & Volunteer Engagement
Isabel oversees the planning, managing, and resourcing process for Trellis to operate with excellence and integrity. She was first called to volunteer with Trellis for a few years, where she led at the Check-in Center and helped establish the Community Impact Team, before stepping into her official role. Her passion to see God’s justice brought to every one of His children is what drives her to help equip and mobilize the church to make an impact on the city.
Prior to joining the Trellis team, Isabel acquired a diverse skill set while working in government as a policy advisor and later for a data visualization company specializing in school districts. Isabel moved from Big Bear Lake in 2011 to attend Vanguard University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in History & Political Science and a minor in Religion from Vanguard University as well as a certification in Lean Six Sigma process improvement methods.
Isabel enjoys spending time with family and friends and continuing to grow her relationship with the Lord. Isabel loves to go swing dancing with friends and try out new restaurants and coffee shops.
LEHUA COLEY
Director of Development
Lehua directs and leads the team in developing sustainable ways to support and grow the work of Trellis in Costa Mesa and Beyond. She also works closely with our Stakeholders group, while managing our fundraising and donors. Her deep knowledge of leading in churches and nonprofits ignites her passion to help continue to build bridges and inspire our communities to be better together.
Originally from Hawaii, Lehua relocated to gain a dual bachelor’s degree from Vanguard University in Theatre and Religion. While residing in Cosa Mesa for 23 years, she gained experience as the Creative Arts Pastor at the Crossing Church and 5 years in the Spiritual Formation Department at Vanguard University.
Lehua recently relocated to Franklin, Tennessee with her husband and 3 kids, where she works remotely for Trellis and still visits occasionally. When she isn’t working or spending time at home, you can probably find her adventuring or camping with her family in the mountains.
Sam Ashurst
Director of City Challenges
Sam Ashurst recently joined our team at Trellis as the Director of City Challenges. She is excited to see the church be connected and activated to the challenges in their city across Orange County. She is passionate about empowering people and supporting them in their dreams. We love seeing her passion for evaluating where people need more support, coming beside them, and helping find those resources come to life throughout her work with Trellis. Her vision for a better, more unified Body of Christ that works together to serve those who need resources and a friendly face embodies the efforts and mission of Trellis.
Same graduated from Vanguard University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Interpersonal Communication. She then worked five years in Human Resources at the OC Fair & Event Center where she learned the power of meeting people where they are at, and caring about where they are going. For the last four years, she has been on the pastoral staff of Genesis Church. In this role, she learned the importance of community and the ability to walk with and restore dignity to the hurting. Sam has also blessed us with her volunteer work at our events and helped us execute major wins on Love Costa Mesa Day.
Sam and her husband Caleb of two years have a sweet puppy named Penny together that they love dearly. She loves to create art and experiences the most joy when she is in community and walking out life with those the Lord has put in front of her.
Terrilee Stevenson
Education Initiative Director
Terrilee is our liaison for the Costa Mesa School District, as well as all its beloved schools, teachers and administrators. She is passionate about using her gifts, skills and experience to help engage more of our community to help our schools be all they can be in order to impact future generations. She ensures that our schools are working together by supporting and encouraging them in any way possible.
Terrilee attended Taylor University in Indiana, where she obtained her Associate Degree in Business Administration before relocating to Costa Mesa. Prior to Trellis, she worked in the Newport Mesa Unified School District utilizing her administrative skills for 13 years. She then gained experience as the Executive Assistant at a local church for 12 years. Terrilee jumped into her position at Trellis with a total of 25 years of relevant experience and skills, which she blesses both our team and our local schools with effortlessly.
Terrilee has lived in Costa Mesa for 34 years, raised her 3 children here and is now helping her 7 grandchildren also recognize what is great about our city. While she loves relaxing with a good book or spending time at the beach, she also thrives on adventure. Terrilee and her husband of 35 years, Ian, enjoy the thrill of motorcycle rides, as well as hiking and backpacking excursions.
Reina Cuthill
Neighboring Initiative Director and Homelessness Check-In Center Manager
Reina oversees operations through volunteer scheduling, supply coordination and event support at the Homelessness Check-In Center for Trellis. She has been volunteering with Trellis at the Check-In Center storage facility for the homeless since 2013, which she now manages. Reina recently became our Neighboring Initiative Director, and we look forward to utilizing her experience and connections with various cities, communities, and nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about growing relationships among our community and beyond.
Prior to Trellis, Reina studied at UCI, where she found her heart for working with the homeless. She became President of Helping Hearts for the Homeless at UCI, which allowed her to empower students to serve the local homeless community, as well as spread awareness and education on campus. Furthermore, she oversaw several community youth programs regarding leadership development, community service & mental health advocacy at Orange County Herald Center. Reina discovered her passion for community work during her time as staff at The Beacon Church in Orange, CA working alongside Love Orange & Love Irvine initiatives and directly witnessing how churches can strategically partner with cities to make a greater impact.
Reina is a proud resident of Costa Mesa, and loves pouring into the city she believes in. She was blessed to meet her husband, Chris, at the Check-In Center, and continues to serve as a family there with him and their son.
Kayton Garcia
Prayer Initiative Director
Kayton is a catalyst for prayer in the city of Costa Mesa. He functions as a facilitator for prayer leaders in the cities efforts to build a prayer culture and movement, as well as an organizer for city wide prayer opportunities. In its simplest form, He desires to see the presence of God in the city... With a broad understanding and empathy for different demographics represented in the city, and a deep appreciation for differing denominations, traditions, and Christ-following practices, Kayton deeply desires to see the body of Christ function in unity, rallying around the most essential thing in life, Jesus, and His work on the cross. Kayton moved to the city of Costa Mesa towards the end of 2020. Drawn primarily by his church community at Genesis Church, and secondly by the surf/art community, Kayton has found his home among friends of every age, tradition, and culture.
Molly Rowland
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
Molly assists in marketing efforts to provide direction, leadership, and support to our Trellis team. She creates detailed content from events, meetings, and gatherings for development of each initiative through stories, newsletters, and social media posts. She is the voice behind our social media accounts and platforms, where she creates and manages content and serves as our liaison for audience interaction. Molly has been volunteering with Trellis since late 2020, and we are so excited to have her on our staff team. Prior to working with Trellis, Molly graduated from California State University Fullerton with her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, concentrating in Public Relations. Through her 4 years at CSUF, she nurtured her passion for children, homeless men and women, special needs, communication and social media through volunteering and interning with various nonprofits. Molly’s heart for those in need and experience in various fields fuels her skills and knowledge in marketing, social media and PR to assist our Trellis Team and Initiatives. In her free time, Molly, an Orange County native, loves nannying for a few clients, playing games and doing puzzles with her family, as well as cross-stitching, and potting succulents. She also enjoys camping, hiking, riding bikes, playing music, and exploring. She plays guitar and sings, serving on her church’s worship team, and is part of a girl band called The Sweet Nuthins.