Resource Center

The Summer 2026 First Stone Ministries newsletter centers on the theme of idolatry and inner child work. Women's Minister Bronwyn Welch offers a biblically grounded call to wholehearted devotion, warning against the subtle ways idols compete for our hearts. Office Administrator Joseph Thiessen shares a vulnerable personal account of reconnecting with his wounded childhood self through Husband Material Academy. Director Laura Leigh Stanlake contributes a warm anniversary reflection honoring 33 years of ministry and the many faithful people who shaped First Stone's story.

In this heartfelt reflection, First Stone Ministries Director Laura Leigh Stanlake looks back on 33 years of ministry — from her introduction to Jeff Janes at a wedding to joining staff full-time in 1997. She honors the many staff members and volunteers whose unique gifts shaped the ministry's culture of honesty, hospitality, and healing. Laura's reflection is a tribute to community as the vehicle God consistently uses to bring hurting people into His presence and toward restoration.

In this personal reflection shared by First Stone Ministries, Joseph Thiessen describes his journey through Husband Material Academy — a men's ministry program built around emotional healing rather than accountability alone. Through exercises like meeting his childhood self in imagination, writing blessing letters, and spending intentional time reconnecting with the boy he once was, Joseph began to recover a voice that had long been silent. He describes it as the most intentionally healing experience he has ever encountered.

In this biblically rich article from First Stone Ministries, the author explores how idolatry — loving anything more than God — divides our allegiance and draws our hearts away from Him. Using passages from the Psalms, Isaiah, the Gospels, and the letters of Paul, the piece calls readers to honestly examine what they seek for comfort, approval, control, or security apart from God. The answer is not mere self-improvement, but wholehearted repentance and a full return to 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.

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.

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.

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 Morning Jesus Declared His Mission: A Reflection for Advent” imaginatively retells the Sabbath when Jesus read Isaiah 61 in Nazareth and announced, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” The article reflects on how easily people miss God’s nearness in familiar places and how Christ’s mission defines Advent: bringing good news, binding up the brokenhearted, and freeing captives. It then connects this mission to nearly fifty years of ministry at First Stone, highlighting Christ’s ongoing restoration and inviting renewed hope and dependence on His Spirit.