“A Call to ‘Ex-Gays’ to Press Toward the Higher Mark” urges those leaving homosexuality not to quit in discouragement but to keep pressing toward spiritual maturity in Christ. The article acknowledges how lonely and difficult this journey can be, while warning against using present struggle as an excuse to give up. Instead, it calls readers to perseverance, holiness, and a higher goal rooted in Jesus, framing the Christian life as an ongoing pursuit rather than a finished achievement.
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Inquiring of the Lord
In this milestone message marking First Stone Ministries' fiftieth year, Executive Director Laura Leigh Stanlake reflects on God's sustained faithfulness and calls the ministry to seek His direction with intentionality and humility. Drawing on the cautionary examples of Israel's covenant with the Gibeonites and Rehoboam's ill-fated counsel, she emphasizes the importance of prayer, wise counsel, and patient discernment over quick decisions. As First Stone looks ahead, the ministry's desire remains simple — to depend on the Lord and follow where He leads.
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What is Changing, and Why
Marking 50 years of ministry, First Stone Ministries announces a thoughtful evolution in how it communicates and ministers. While remaining firmly grounded in biblical conviction and the belief that healing is found in Jesus Christ alone, the ministry is adopting warmer, more accessible language, refreshing its website, and shifting internally toward Scripture-based identity formation rather than self-assessment. The goal is clear — to meet people where they are, welcome their whole story, and walk with them patiently toward freedom and wholeness in Christ.
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Holding Love and Truth When It’s Challenging
In this thoughtful article from First Stone Ministries, the author — a parent personally navigating a child's gender identity questions — examines how cultural pressure has redefined empathy as agreement rather than understanding. Drawing on Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 13, and the cautionary example of Aaron, the piece calls believers to hold love and truth together without yielding to coercive demands. True empathy, the author concludes, does not affirm what is contrary to God's will — it points people to Jesus.
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2026 Spring Newsletter
The Spring 2026 issue of First Stone Ministries' newsletter marks the organization's 50th anniversary with a theme of prayerful, Spirit-led change. Laura Leigh Stanlake reflects on the danger of moving without inquiring of the Lord, while Jim Farrington addresses the cultural redefinition of empathy and the pressure families face to affirm LGBTQ+ identities. The newsletter also announces a refreshed website, updated ministry language, and a renewed internal focus on Scripture-based identity formation — all grounded in the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ.
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Breaking Free from the Fear of Man
“Breaking Free from the Fear of Man” defines the fear of man as an approval addiction that shapes decisions, emotions, and even obedience to God. Using Proverbs 29:25 and biblical examples like Saul and Aaron, the article shows how people-pleasing derails leaders and everyday believers alike. Stanlake traces roots in childhood messages, social pressure, personality, and pain, then outlines steps toward freedom: preferring God, knowing identity in Christ, recognizing triggers, inviting accountability, and growing in community that fears the Lord together.
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The Problem with Unforgiveness
“The Problem with Unforgiveness” warns that refusing to forgive carries severe spiritual consequences, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:14–15. Unforgiveness blocks prayer, fosters spiritual dryness, opens doors to the enemy, and reflects a graceless heart. Drawing from Acts 8:22–23 and June Hunt’s Forgiveness, the article details harmful traits—bitterness, pride, judgment, vengefulness—that poison relationships with God and others. By contrast, forgiveness reflects God’s nature, breaks captivity to sin, and restores freedom, intimacy, and spiritual vitality in the believer’s life.
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The Great Pronoun Debate: Should I Use Someone’s Preferred Pronouns?
Laura Smalts argues that using preferred pronouns contrary to biological sex conflicts with God’s intentional design of male and female in creation. She highlights purposes for sex distinctions—fruitfulness, complementary gifting, and whole‑body sexual differentiation—alongside research on the brain’s rapid recognition of sex. Smalts contends affirming cross‑sex identity harms truth and obscures God’s glory reflected differently in men and women. Practically, she advises kindness, restraint with pronouns, using given names cautiously, asking questions like Jesus, and prioritizing respectful, gospel‑centered conversations.
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Testimonies on YouTube
Curated testimonies on our YouTube channel. We hope you are blessed by these.
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Porn & Sex are Women's Issues Too!
Host Garry Ingraham talks with guest Laura Leigh Stanlake.
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The 5 Streams: Differing Responses to LGBTQ
“The 5 Streams: Differing Responses to LGBTQ” by Linda Seiler, PhD, analyzes five major Christian perspectives—Condemnation, Affirmation, Accommodation, Mortification, and Transformation—on same-sex attraction and gender identity. Each stream is explained with its theological premise, understanding of sexual orientation’s origin, and practical pastoral care. The guide clarifies why views diverge, highlights representative ministries and authors, and contrasts outcomes for individuals seeking change. This resource empowers churches and readers to discern biblical truth and offer informed, compassionate support for those wrestling with LGBTQ questions.
Keep ReadingMar 30
2002
Breaking the Silence on the "M" Word
“Breaking the Silence on the ‘M’ Word” confronts the stigma and silence around masturbation among Christians. Through real-life testimony and pastoral reflection, the article reveals how shame and secrecy empower harmful habits, arguing that darkness leads to isolation and hopelessness. By encouraging open discussion and reliance on God’s grace, First Stone Ministries urges readers to move beyond embarrassment, embrace compassionate guidance, and seek hope through biblical principles and spiritual support for overcoming struggles with sexuality.
“Sexual Sin and Bondage: What Does It Look Like To Be Healed?” outlines the biblical process of transformation from sexual brokenness. The article argues that true healing is not instant perfection but a Spirit-led journey marked by growing intimacy with God, behavioral change, and new identity in Christ. It lists signs of authentic recovery—consistent rejection of temptation, dependence on God, emotional maturity, and selfless service—emphasizing that healing is a unique, progressive process shaped by commitment, knowledge, and reliance on God’s grace.
Sep 17
1997
Responding To Temptation
“Responding to Temptation” details practical Christian steps for overcoming sin. The article explains the importance of receiving God’s grace, reckoning yourself dead to sin, and remaining vigilant in spiritual warfare. Readers are urged to recognize when temptations come from within versus demonic attack, respond with aggressive prayer or repentance, and love God more than fleeting pleasures. True victory comes from embracing both humility and spiritual authority—yielded before God like a lamb, but courageous against evil like a lion, trusting Christ for lasting transformation.
May 26
1995
From Preacher's Kid to Prostitute to PRIEST
David Kyle Foster's testimony is one of the most dramatic shared through First Stone Ministries. Raised by a stern, emotionally distant father, David's pain drove him through suicide attempts, years of male prostitution on Sunset Boulevard, a stint as a film actor, and involvement in a false religious cult. After supernatural encounters with God's love — culminating in salvation at the Garden of Gethsemane — David experienced complete transformation and eventually founded Mastering Life Ministries, dedicating his life to bringing sexual healing to others.