We are now in our fiftieth year of ministry at First Stone. I find my heart anchored in one steady reality: God is faithful and true.

For five decades, He has sustained and built this ministry, guiding, providing, and transforming lives through the power of Jesus Christ. We are deeply grateful for the many leaders, individuals, and families who have been part of that story. Every changed life and every life supported is a testimony to His kindness and His truth at work among us.

This anniversary invites us to reflect with gratitude and to look ahead with intention, asking the Lord to lead us clearly into what is next.

After two significant victories, the people of Israel were approached by travelers who claimed to have come from a distant land. Their story seemed convincing. Their bread was dry and moldy, and their clothing appeared aged from a long journey. Everything seemed to confirm their story. According to Scripture, God’s people were deceived because they only examined the evidence and looked at what seemed reasonable, but they did not inquire of the Lord (Joshua 9).  As a result, they entered into a covenant that brought hardship for generations to come, all because they did not turn to the Lord.

This kind of seeking is often slower than we expect. It happens as we return to the Lord again and again in prayer, as we listen together, and as we make room for Him to lead us. It calls us to slow our pace, resist the pressure to decide too quickly, and trust that His direction is worth waiting for.

I find myself less interested in mapping out five- or ten-year plans; I’d rather us have a clear sense of the Lord’s leading. We’re becoming more committed to seeking Him faithfully for each step ahead.

That has meant slowing decisions, revisiting them in prayer, and seeking the Lord not only individually but together as a staff and leadership team. We are giving careful attention to wise counsel, allowing time for clarity to develop, and resisting the urgency to move just because something appears right in our view. This kind of attentiveness is shaping how we approach what lies ahead.

In 1 Kings 12, we find another cautionary account. Rehoboam stands at a pivotal moment in his leadership and seeks counsel from the elders who had advised his father. They understood the weight of the decision before him and offered wise guidance. He also consulted his peers. In the end, he rejected the counsel of the elders and followed the advice that aligned with his instincts and his friends. The outcome was costly.

It is too easy to rely on what seems wise in the moment—on knowledge, experience, or even strong conviction. I often feel that pull myself. Those things matter, but they are not enough on their own. I want to continue growing as someone who seeks the Lord, listens carefully, and receives counsel with humility.

As a ministry, we are committed to that same posture as we make decisions and look ahead. We want to be people who seek the Lord together, who listen well, and who move forward with humility and clarity as He leads.

We are considering how to serve the next generation with clarity and compassion while also honoring the faithfulness and strength of those who have carried this ministry for many years. We are asking the Lord how the shape of our ministry may continue to grow and adapt so that we remain faithful to our calling in the years ahead.

We are committed to continuing to listen carefully, move thoughtfully, and trust Him to lead us.

As we mark this milestone year, our desire is simple: to remain a people who depend on Him.

Would you join us in praying for wisdom, unity, and clear direction as we take these next steps?