Lis

Lis has always had a heart for serving others—from her time as a lieutenant in the military, to her role as Director of Operations at Vanderbilt, and now as a mentor at Begin Anew. Her journey has taken her from Chicago to Germany and finally to Tennessee.

After moving to Tennessee, Lis began attending Woodmont Baptist Church, where she met Jamie Dunham. Jamie has long been involved at Begin Anew, leading Community Groups and sharing its mission with others.

Lis first learned about Begin Anew through her Sunday School class. “Jamie would always talk about Begin Anew. The program was something I’d always wanted to be connected to—a way I could give back to the community.” Lis retired from Vanderbilt four years ago, entering what she describes as a meaningful new season. “This season of my life is a new beginning. Since retiring, I’ve dedicated this time to servitude.”

Through her service at Begin Anew, Lis has touched many students’ lives. “There was a student moving away who had a very scientific mind and considered herself an agnostic, but she attended Community Group. I asked if it had made a difference. She said, ‘I learned that things happen for a reason—that God might change things in your life because He has a plan.’ She and her husband moved away, but I knew we’d made an impression. Moments like that matter because they show the difference we’ve made and how we can touch people’s minds. Hopefully, when she’s ready, God will touch her heart.”

Lis is a wonderful part of our Crievewood Community Group, and we are grateful for her compassion and dedication. As she says, “It’s a beautiful thing to help give people new opportunities—no matter who they are or where they come from.”