Resource Center

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.

The 2025 Winter Newsletter from First Stone Ministries offers a snapshot of current discipleship groups, support opportunities, and special events aimed at fostering spiritual growth and healing. It highlights key teaching themes, resources for those facing sexual and relational struggles, and opportunities for parents, churches, and supporters to engage. Readers are invited to pray, give, and participate in ongoing ministry efforts, reflecting the organization’s mission to provide biblically grounded care, hope, and transformation in Jesus Christ.

The First Stone Ministries newsletter provides readers with a comprehensive view of the ministry’s current outreach, events, and resources. Inside, you’ll find testimonies of changed lives, biblical encouragement, and practical advice for those navigating sexual and relational struggles. The newsletter highlights the importance of Christ-centered support, upcoming ministry activities, and featured articles aimed at equipping believers for personal and family transformation. Each edition seeks to foster deeper faith, hope, and restoration within the church and broader community.

The Summer 2025 First Stone Ministries newsletter addresses subtle spiritual challenges, such as envy, fatherlessness, unforgiveness, and issues of control. Articles highlight how envy can erode relationships, the lasting impact of absent or poor father figures, and the freeing power of forgiveness. Personal testimony describes deliverance from control and chronic fatigue through repentance. The newsletter also offers ministry updates, recommended readings on faith and sexuality, upcoming support groups, and events, all aimed at promoting spiritual and relational healing.

The Spring 2025 First Stone Ministries newsletter highlights the ministry’s biblical stance against gender transitions for minors, citing concern for their emotional and physical well-being. Articles address healing from deep personal wounds through faith, the spiritual dangers of affirming behaviors deemed unbiblical, and guidance on handling pronoun usage as a Christian. The publication reflects on God’s intentional design for gender, promotes the value of compassionate ministry, and shares practical resources for families navigating gender and identity issues.

The Winter 2024 First Stone Ministries newsletter focuses on sustaining hope and faith amid holiday triggers and relational challenges. Articles address thriving through emotional struggles, biblical reflections on loneliness, and support for parents of LGBTQ+ family members. The issue includes practical steps for gratitude, prayer, worship, and scripture engagement, alongside ministry updates and commentary on legal developments involving transgender transition laws. Overall, the publication encourages readers to cultivate hope, resilience, and deeper spiritual connection during times of uncertainty.

The Fall 2024 First Stone Ministries newsletter features a powerful personal account of overcoming family trauma and abuse, emphasizing support, forgiveness, and maintaining loving relationships. It introduces the new “Living Free” curriculum for spiritual growth, shares ministry demographic highlights, explains strategies for trusting God, and reviews a book on navigating LGBTQ topics through faith. The newsletter also provides updates on support groups and administrative tools, equipping readers with hope, encouragement, and practical resources for spiritual and relational healing.

From a Christian perspective, gender dysphoria is real psychological distress that warrants compassion, patient care, and truth held together, affirming every person’s dignity as an image bearer while upholding God’s good design of male and female revealed in creation and Scripture. Faithful responses prioritize identity in Christ, pastoral support, and counseling that aligns self-perception with embodied sex rather than transition pathways. For deeper study, see recommended reading on theological, pastoral, and testimonial resources addressing gender dysphoria.

“What Is Transgender?” defines the term as a perception-based disconnect between inner gender identity and biological sex, contrasting it with related terms. The article explains God is spirit—not male or female—yet created humanity male and female in His image, equally valuable but gloriously different. Scientific and biblical evidence affirm binary design. Addressing parental dilemmas over name and pronoun changes, it urges truth spoken with kindness, rejecting affirmation of false identity while seeking Holy Spirit guidance to navigate relationships with love and integrity.

The Summer 2024 First Stone Ministries newsletter centers on a mother’s personal experience with her son’s gender transition and shares Christian guidance for parents whose children come out as LGBTQ. The publication includes practical steps for responding with grace, maintaining open communication, and upholding biblical beliefs. Readers find insights on gender identity, recommended resources, book suggestions, and support group information. The newsletter emphasizes trusting God, processing grief, and engaging with loved ones compassionately amid changing family dynamics.