We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stefanie Rouse a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Stefanie, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
A Mission Rooted in Redemption and Love
Our mission is deeply personal—it’s born out of heartbreak, redemption, and a calling to help others find hope and healing in their relationships. A pivotal moment in my life came on Valentine’s Day in 2009, when my world was shattered. Three months before my wedding day, my fiancé ended our engagement. The pain was excruciating. I had spent so much of my life trying to find my worth in relationships, seeking validation and love from men, only to end up with heartbreak after heartbreak.
For years, I chased love so desperately, believing that being loved by someone else was the ultimate affirmation of my value. But no matter how hard I tried, I kept falling short. The brokenness I carried was exhausting, and it became clear I needed something far greater than human love to heal the wounds in my heart.
That painful season turned out to be the catalyst for transformation. Instead of letting heartbreak define me, I surrendered to God and asked Him to show me who I was in His eyes. Through prayers, counseling, tears, and community, He began doing a work in me, revealing my worth was not tied to someone else’s love but rooted in being His beloved daughter.
This journey led me to take one of the biggest leaps of faith in my life. I left everything I knew in Pennsylvania, where I had attended Penn State for undergrad, and moved across the country to Los Angeles to attend Fuller Seminary. It was a bold step, but one I knew God was calling me to take. At Fuller, I pursued a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, immersing myself in understanding love, relationships, and healing from a biblical perspective.
In those years, I grew so much—not just academically but spiritually and emotionally. The move was more than a physical change; it was a heart shift, a fresh start where God began showing me His plans for my life were far better than anything I could imagine. As I worked with clients, I started to see breakthroughs—not just in their lives but in my own. God was using my story and the healing He was bringing me to help others rebuild their lives, restore their hearts, and discover the fullness of love rooted in Him.
In His perfect timing, I met Caleb, the love of my life. Our story is one of God’s redemption, a testament to His faithfulness and His ability to exceed our greatest hopes. We both have a deep love for marriage and relationships—ones that honor God and reflect His design for love. Together, we’ve dedicated our lives to mentoring others, especially singles navigating heartbreak, divorce, infidelity, and seasons of waiting.
Our greatest joy is seeing people experience the same transformation and freedom we’ve found. Helping others walk through pain and come out stronger, more confident in their identity in Christ, and equipped to thrive in godly relationships is what fuels us every day. Whether it’s guiding someone through the wounds of divorce or helping a single person overcome the scars of past heartbreak, we count it a privilege to witness lives being changed and marriages flourishing.
This mission isn’t just a calling; it’s our purpose. We believe that every person deserves to experience love the way God intended—wholehearted, life-giving, and rooted in Him. And we are honored to walk alongside others as they journey toward the abundant relationships and thriving marriages they were created for.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Stefanie Rouse, and I am a relationship mentor with a passion for helping singles experience healing, purpose, and the kind of love that honors God. My journey to this work has been shaped by personal heartbreak, faith, and a deep desire to see others thrive in their relationships and lives.
One of the things I’m most passionate about is helping singles not only heal from past heartbreak but also prepare for the healthy, thriving relationships God has for them. At the core of my work is the belief that love is meant to reflect God’s goodness—whether it’s in marriage, community, or how we see ourselves.
Through the mentorship programs my husband Caleb and I have created, we provide resources and guidance tailored to the unique struggles singles face today. Many of our clients come to us carrying deep wounds—whether from divorce, infidelity, or unfulfilled desires. Our approach is to help them move beyond simply “getting by” to thriving, rooted in a strong sense of their identity in Christ and practical tools for navigating relationships.
What sets our mentorship apart is the intentional mix of faith, relational wisdom, and community support. We’ve seen firsthand how vital it is for people to feel like they’re not alone in their journey. That’s why we’ve built spaces for singles to share their stories, grow spiritually, and cheer each other on as they take bold steps toward healing and love.
One of my proudest moments in this journey has been witnessing the transformations in the lives of those we’ve mentored. From clients who felt stuck in toxic cycles, to those who thought they’d never have the chance to experience a godly marriage, it’s been incredible to see them now thriving in relationships that honor God. These stories remind me every day of why this work is so important.
What I’d love for people to know about us is that we don’t just provide strategies and advice—we walk alongside you. Caleb and I have been through our own seasons of waiting, heartbreak, and uncertainty, so we know the challenges you face. Our heart is to encourage you, equip you, and remind you that God’s plans for your life are filled with abundance, hope, and love beyond anything you could imagine.
Whether it’s through one-on-one mentorship, group programs, or community challenges, everything we offer is designed to help you step confidently into the future God has for you. We’d be honored to be part of your journey.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
A Time We Had to Pivot
In 2020, before anyone knew the world was about to change, I felt a quiet yet undeniable nudge from the Holy Spirit that challenged everything we were doing. At the time, our income came from brand partnerships. We were sharing the gospel, relationship advice, and lifestyle content online, and things were going really well. But one day, I sensed God prompting me to stop accepting brand deals altogether.
It was terrifying. Saying no to opportunities that seemed like clear blessings felt counterintuitive, especially since this was how we provided for ourselves. I shared what I was feeling with Caleb, and together we prayed about it. Even though it didn’t make logical sense at the time, we decided to trust God and be obedient. One by one, we started turning down incredible opportunities, unsure of what the future would hold.
Then, the pandemic hit. Suddenly, every brand deal we had said no to disappeared across the board. It became so clear that God had been preparing and protecting us, even when we didn’t fully understand what He was doing. In the midst of that uncertainty, we felt Him redirecting us, calling us to focus on our relationship mentorship programs, courses, and group mentorship.
This pivot not only shifted how we worked, but it also expanded our vision. With more time and energy freed up, we felt led to launch more mentorship programs, specifically tailored for singles and couples navigating heartbreak, confusion, and the desire for thriving, godly relationships. For singles, we created programs to help them heal from past pain, rebuild their confidence, and prepare for the healthy love God has for them. For couples, we launched mentorship programs to strengthen their foundation, improve communication, and align their relationships with God’s design for marriage.
This wasn’t just about finding a new way to work—it was about stepping fully into the calling God placed on our lives. It brought so much purpose and joy, knowing we were making a lasting impact in people’s lives. The stories of transformation we’ve witnessed since then—singles who went from heartbreak to thriving relationships, couples who’ve deepened their love for each other and for God—have been the greatest confirmation that we are exactly where God wants us to be.
That season of pivoting wasn’t easy, but it was worth every challenge. It drew us closer to God, strengthened our marriage, and aligned us even more with the work we were created to do. What I’ve learned through this experience is that obedience to God’s leading opens the door to blessings we can’t always see right away. And those blessings, both in our lives and in the lives of the people we mentor, have been far greater than anything we could have imagined on our own.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
How I Met Caleb, My Husband and Business Partner
Caleb and I met in a way that could only have been orchestrated by God. It was a Sunday at church, and I was worshipping with my hands raised high, completely lost in God’s presence. Across the room, Caleb saw me for the very first time. Later, he would tell me that the moment reminded him of the scene in the movie Big Fish, when they say, “When you meet the love of your life, time stops.” That’s how he describes that moment.
Curious about who I was, Caleb asked one of his friends—who happened to be super connected at church—if he knew me. Later that evening, we met at a coffee shop that had live music and supported an orphanage in Africa, a special place many of us from church loved to hang out after the service. I remember seeing this very tall, blonde, handsome man with the sweetest blue eyes standing in front of me. I thought he was so cute.
But just as I started to notice him, another guy, who I had only been on one date with at that time, came up beside me and put his arm around me. I didn’t think much of it then, but Caleb later told me that guy gave him the stankest face. We laugh about it now. Looking back, I wish I would have caught that red flag. I ended up dating that guy for a couple of months, and Caleb was heartbroken.
Still, Caleb prayed for me every single day. He told all his friends about me, calling me his “dream girl.” He prayed for my happiness, even if it wasn’t with him, but also prayed that if I wasn’t happy, he would have a chance to date me someday. In that season, God didn’t waste the waiting. Caleb grew closer to God, and I went through a time of healing and growth that I desperately needed.
While Caleb was on a missions trip to Nicaragua, the kids asked him if he liked anyone. He told them about “dream girl” back home and said that if she ever became single, he would take his shot. The week he returned, everything changed. At church that Sunday, I walked up and talked to him. He was shocked. Then his friend told him I was single. He was extra shocked!
Soon after, we went to a Fourth of July picnic with a group from church at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Sitting outside on the grass, Caleb and I hit it off immediately. Over the next few weeks, our mutual friend Sarah planned lots of group hangouts, and Caleb and I spent a lot of time together in those settings. It was clear there was chemistry and something special between us. I was so drawn to his humility, humor, and genuine love for God and others.
When Caleb finally asked me out, I was more than ready to say yes. Our first date was the best first date I had ever been on. Over the following dates, we both realized something incredible: being with each other felt more like home than we had ever felt with anyone else.
When Caleb proposed, it was the most beautiful confirmation from God. After I said yes, there was a rainbow in the sky on the beach in Laguna. After my past heartbreak and broken engagement, that rainbow felt like a God wink—a sign that this time was going to be very different.
Now, we love working together to serve God and others. Being able to partner with my best friend and the love of my life in helping people heal and thrive in their relationships is an honor we don’t take lightly. It’s amazing to look back and see how God brought our paths together at just the right time, not only for our love story but for the greater purpose He had planned for us to walk out together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stefanieandcaleb.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanie.rouse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stefanielrouse/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StefanieandCaleb