I have challenged our non-bloggers to become bloggers...I have figured out in my 8 years we have sent 1200 plus students/adults on Mission trips.  You often hear within Youth Ministry that numbers don't matter...that it is all about being faithful to Jesus and laying out the Banquet table.   I feel like we have done that in my time at Stanley.  But probably the one thing that has given the greatest happiness is our Mission Trips over the years.  There are so many darn memories...my first with the Church involved a small group of JH students..we ventured down to

Lately, I have been reflecting on the past year and all of the changes that I have seen over that year. In the past year, I have lost two loved ones that were very close to me. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about them but I know that they are way happier where they are right now. I look at the change in the lifestyle that I have had. A short year ago I was a Senior at Blue Valley West and now I am a Freshman at the University of Kansas. I have changed my major quite a few times and just a few weeks ago finally settled on the one to pursue. I have had to unfortunatley go

30 years. From the basement of a bank to a huge church in Stanley. Our church has experienced a lot in our wonderful 30 years and I am glad I've been apart of it for 5 amazing years. This past weekend really opened up my eyes to how God has blessed our church. I am glad we got a chance to show the former pastors of Stanley how much we appreciated their hard work in helping get us where we are now. I want the church to know that the 30th Anniversary Weekend was amazing and God really came more clear to me. I enjoyed all the services and the dinner. :)

I believe God has great plans for our lives, but sometimes he knows we need more training.  It is these during these moments that God will put us into some really difficult or challenging situations in our lives where we experience pain, confusion, frustration, sadness or despair.  I believe he wants us to depend on him and realize that he has a purpose for the situation.  While that purpose is probably very unclear to us, it is all part of Gods' plan for our lives.  I believe our response to these situations is to listen for God speaking to us and fully engage life and