October 2013

A Future of Possibilities
A profile of Scott Stoner

null Four years ago, the Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner was having lunch with his friend the Rev. Gary Manning at a caf� in suburban Milwaukee when he grabbed a napkin and sketched out a compass with the words heart, strength, mind and soul at its points. From that drawing and the ideas that informed it has sprung a wellness ministry that is on the verge of becoming bigger than Stoner could have imagined.

In April, Living Compass, the name that Stoner and his wife Holly gave to their ministry, received a $6 million gift from Ab Nicholas, founder of the Nicholas mutual funds and his wife Nancy, both of whom are longtime supporters of their work. At the same time, the Nicholas' donated $4 million to the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago to transform the unfinished fifth floor of its diocesan offices into the Nicholas Center which will serve, among other things, as a place for Living Compass to host retreats and to train facilitators.


A Compass to Help Teens Navigate Life
You're not sitting in the backseat anymore

null How does what you learn at church influence the rest of your life?   

 

It's a question Holly Hughes Stoner frequently asks young people. As a tutor, teacher, therapist and mother of three, she knows that for many teenagers, there's a huge disconnect between their church experience and everyday life. For example, she recently asked a church youth group, "What impact does what you learn at church have on your thoughts about cheating?"

 

Their answer? Not much.

 

Read more.


Heart, Soul, Mind, Strength:  Living Compass Summer Camp
Diocese of Milwaukee uses teen program at Camp Webb

 

You never know what kids might learn at summer camp, but the possibilities include how to draw a mustache on a sleeping bunkmate, whether turtles can flip over if you put them on their backs and where babies come from. So when Living Compass inspired young people in the Diocese of Milwaukee to go home talking about how to take care of themselves so they could better serve others, Carla McCook, the bishop's assistant for lifelong Christian formation, couldn't have been happier.

 

"We wanted the kids to know that we need to take care of ourselves because Christ calls us to do it," said McCook, who used Living Compass materials to develop a summer camp programs for kids grades 3-7 and their leaders in grades 8-12.

 

During the first four days of the weeklong camp, kids at Camp Webb explored one Living Compass point-heart, soul, strength and mind-each day. "We started with the stuff that's easier for kids-bodies and minds," said McCook. "The first day we talked about how we care for our bodies, and the second day, how we care for our minds. There's an old adage that says what you put in is what you get out."

 

Read more.

WEEKLY WORDS OF WELLNESS
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Visit our website to subscribe to "Weekly Words of Wellness," the Friday column offered by the Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner who covers a new topic each week providing insight and wisdom for our everyday lives.

Permission is freely given to use any or all the Weekly Words of Wellness columns in newsletters, emails, or any other manner. We only ask that you give proper attribution to Living Compass.   

Living Compass
500 W. Silver Spring Dr. K270
Glendale, WI 53217
livingcompass.org
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