As First Stone enters its 50th year of ministry, we do so with deep gratitude for God’s faithfulness. For five decades, He has sustained this work, used it to bring help and hope, and carried us through seasons of both clarity and challenge. We are thankful for the many people who have been part of this story, and we do not take lightly the privilege of continuing it.

Over the years, much of our public communication has focused on explaining who we are, what we believe, and where we stand. That work has been important. In a culture where repentance is often dismissed, where sexual behavior is increasingly treated as identity, and where the church has at times struggled to speak clearly and compassionately, it has mattered to name truth with conviction. We have believed, and still believe, that healing is not found in a method, but in a Person—Jesus Christ.

At the same time, the people we want to reach are changing. Many in the younger generations carry real anxiety, relational hesitation, and uncertainty about face-to-face engagement. Some have little church experience, while others have been wounded by it. Many are exploring spirituality without a clear foundation in the gospel. This is a challenge every generation faces: how to carry the enduring truth of the gospel in ways people can truly receive. We do not claim to have all the answers, but we are asking the Lord to guide us.

That is why our new website (soon to be live) and updated public language matter. We remain a robust resource of articles, testimonies, and position papers. That part of our ministry is not going away. But the way these resources are presented is changing. We are shaping a softer on-ramp, using warmer language, and placing less emphasis on defending our existence. We want our public presence to feel more invitational and clearly centered on ministry, compassion, and help.

We are not stepping away from biblical conviction. We are seeking to communicate that conviction in ways that are more accessible to those who need it most. This includes removing some overtly political language and reducing language that was once necessary to defend our place. We want people with questions to feel welcomed immediately. Our old tone sometimes kept distance with warnings and pushback; now we’re aiming for the kind of place that says, “Bring your whole story here and we’ll meet you with compassion and truth.”

We are also making important changes internally. In our groups and intake process, we are moving away from self-assessments and toward a more intentional process of discipling identity through Scripture and the indwelling Spirit of God. We want people to encounter more than information or categories. We want them to encounter formation. Our desire is to help people understand who they are in Christ and to walk with them patiently as that truth takes root.

We are grateful for what God has built through so many years of ministry. By His grace, that work has given us a strong foundation to serve from. As we continue to build on that foundation, we ask for your prayers that we would speak with clarity, lead with compassion, and faithfully point people to the freedom and cleansing found in Jesus Christ.