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Email us today at info@growlivingstones.com | |
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God's Timing is Perfect!
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccles. 3:1))
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When God placed the call on my heart to feed the hungry 11 years ago, it never occurred to me that feeding the hungry meant more than meeting peoples’ physical need for food. However, as we faithfully sought God’s direction for His ministry, it became clear that He was calling us to also feed our neighbors emotionally and spiritually. Because of that, the Living Stones of today looks quite different than it did a decade ago.
We have grown. We still offer free meals, but we do so much more. We provide a caring support system that nurtures our neighbors’ overall well-being in many and varied ways. We have meaningful and caring relationships with those who attend regularly. We are strong, committed, and poised for whatever God calls us to do next.
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My plan has always been to step aside when I felt the time was right, and I believe that God, in His perfect timing, has placed in our midst just the right person to lead His ministry forward. The world is changing quickly and dramatically, and I cannot help but believe the time is right for Living Stones to be placed in the capable hands of an intelligent and passionate young leader who is part of the “next generation,” who loves the Lord and Living Stones, and who will ensure that it continues to serve our neighbors and communities with the love of Christ.
I will, therefore, be stepping down as Executive Director come the first of the year, but I will not be going away. I will continue to volunteer, support/mentor my replacement, and serve on the Board of Directors, as will Lynn Bell, who has been my partner on this journey from the outset. Lynn and I have worked tirelessly together, she largely behind the scenes and I the more verbal and visible face of Living Stones. With God at the helm and in partnership with an amazing leadership team and committed group of volunteers, we have done our best to make His ministry what He wanted it to be.
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I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity God has given me to establish and nurture His ministry, for the amazing and dedicated leadership team He raised up to come alongside me, for the many volunteers who have so lovingly served and cared for our neighbors, and for the vision and guidance with which He has blessed and continues to bless us all. I am excited about this new chapter in our history and can hardly wait to see where God, our new Executive Director, and the amazing Living Stones team take His ministry!
It is now my joy and pleasure to introduce Stormie Parson, the next Executive Director of Living Stones, whom I ask God to bless real good!!
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Meet Stormie Parson, Living Stones’ bright, energetic, soon-to-be Executive Director! Stormie is not new to Living Stones. We were first introduced to her on Oct. 30, 2022, at Fairhaven United Methodist Church in Overbrook, where we serve the last Sunday of every month and where her husband, Dylan, is pastor. Stormie has a huge heart and was immediately drawn to our ministry. She loves helping people and was soon serving meals and easily mingling with our neighbors, not just at Fairhaven, but in Dormont and Brentwood, as well.
Shortly after we met Stormie, we began our search for a new Executive Director. We talked with several candidates outside of Living Stones, but it was our hearts’ desire to find someone from within: someone who knew us and was passionate about who we are and what we do. There were several wonderful candidates, but one began to stand out from the rest.
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As we moved carefully ahead to see if Stormie might be a match for the Living Stones position, we found her to be extremely intelligent and eager to help, jumping in to assist with many writing and other assignments, and learning about our history, mission, vision for the future, fiscal obligations, and the many other responsibilities she would need to take on.
During a reference check with Stormie’s current employer, our eyes were opened to yet another amazing Living Stones God story. Her employer knew she was overqualified for the job for which she was interviewing and told her he thought she would likely leave quickly if he hired her. She told him he could count on her staying until a door opened to just the right nonprofit job. Nearly a year later, she is turning in her letter of resignation to accept just the right nonprofit job!
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Stormie graduated cum laude from Allegheny College with a B.A. in Political Science. She minored in Religious Studies with an emphasis on poverty and a deep desire to work in the grassroots nonprofit arena. She is a compassionate and humble woman with a quick wit, calming personality, and unusual name. Stormie Hockenberry was named for Stormie Jones, who received the world’s first heart-liver transplant at just six years of age. Stormie’s father was captivated by the story and fell in love with the brave little girl. When his own daughter was born 17 years later, he still remembered the story and the courageous little girl for whom he would name his own.
How does Stormie feel about starting the job for which she has been faithfully praying and waiting? “I’m just plain excited!” she says enthusiastically. “Well,” she adds, “I have to admit I’m a little nervous, too, but I look forward to the challenges, to learning, to succeeding, even to failing and learning from my mistakes. I know there are a lot of people praying for me, I have a great teacher and mentor in Julie, an amazing God team that has already come alongside me, and an awesome God to guide us all. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given.”
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Come to the Table
Second Sunday of every month
Brentwood Presbyterian Church
3725 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227
Third Sunday of every month
North Way Christian Community Church
Corner of Espy Ave. & Potomac Ave.
Dormont, PA 15216
Across from Potomac Avenue T stop
Last Sunday of every month
Fairhaven United Methodist Church
2415 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15234
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To support the work we do, simply scan a code below or make a check payable to
Living Stones and mail it to
Living Stones, PO Box 13077, Pittsburgh, PA 15243
Thank you!
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Living Stones fosters the cultivation of relationships with neighbors who join us for meals. As relationships develop and deepen, Living Stones volunteers come alongside those individuals and families to assist them in navigating the challenges in their lives and encourage them to find hope in Christ as they learn to trust Him.
"Won't you be my neighbor?"
Fred Rogers
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