Caring Enough to Connect President's Page


by Kevin Stone, President


Since this is my first article in the Fellowship Focus, let me intro- duce myself. My name is Kevin Stone, and it is my honor and privilege to be the new President of the FEBC. I want to personal- ly thank Blaine Donaldson for his service and professionalism. As a pastor within the Fellowship and as one who attended church with the Donaldson family, I truly appreciate and love them. My wife Melissa and I have been married for thirty years. We


have three adult children (Tomas, Beth and Andy). Andy recent- ly married Jana James. Melissa is a middle school teacher, and she is amazing at teaching and at loving kids! My wife and I each have a motorcycle, and we love to travel. I


love music and enjoy relaxing with a board game or a movie, but my favorite activity is golf. I believe someday I’ll be really good at it (probably in heaven). I have been a full-time worship pastor at Crosspoint Bible


Church of Omaha, Neb., since 2006. I had been in bi-vocational ministry since the late 80s, working full time in telecommunica- tions and computer networking. I was ordained by the FEBC in 2013. Since most of my


formal education had been in technical subjects, I went to Grace University (Omaha, Neb.) and completed a Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministries and Biblical Studies in 2016. I pray that my experience in ministry and business along with


God’s giſting and empowerment will serve the Fellowship well. Please pray for me and for this organization. We can do nothing without his power! Tat he uses us to accomplish anything is a humbling miracle. I am passionate about the Church, about her people and


about her calling. It is this passion that drove me to apply for this position, and this passion that excites me regarding the future of this Fellowship! Speaking of our future, the theme for our 2018 Convention in


Dalmeny, Sask. will be “Caring Enough to Connect.” I am anxious to see how God will use this event. If asked what Jesus expects of us, many might answer: “to make


disciples.” Tis was his clear command in Matthew 28. But if asked what that actually means, the answers may vary wildly. Aſter all, there are many Biblically sound models of discipleship. One potential answer: “caring enough to connect.” In Matthew


22, Jesus tells us that everything written in the Word of God hangs on two commandments: that we love the Lord and that we love each oth- er. It is possible to love someone with little connection, but Jesus says we are to love God “… with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). I don’t think you can love someone with all parts of your being unless there is a connection. Our relation- ship to God is a connection that must be cared for, maintained and


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nourished. As we lose connection, we lose intimacy, and the relation- ship suffers. Learning to maintain this connection is discipleship. Tis also applies to love for others. We are called to be in com-


munity with other believers — connected to them in a bond that allows fellowship and fosters spiritual growth. Not only are we to connect with God and with other believers,


but we are to connect with the unsaved around us. Developing relationships with those who need Christ is a critical part of going and making disciples. In our last Fellowship Focus, you were able to read about the impact Pastor Sean Brandow and others have had in the midst of great tragedy in Humboldt. Why? Because God’s people cared enough to connect with the community. Being a disciple means maintaining connections. We connect


with God, we connect with fellow believers, we connect with the community — and as individual local churches, we connect with other churches. Tat’s what our Fellowship is about — maintain- ing connections. Again, any relationship must be nurtured. A connection


will not be maintained without effort. Tat’s why you must care enough to connect. I challenge you to consider how much you care, and I look


forward to connecting with you at convention or at your church someday soon.


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