In honor of National Be Humble day coming up on February 22nd, here is another example of a humble ministry in our local area.
Several years ago Tom Johnson came to Christ and was attending Freeway Ministries trying each day to stay clean and sober. Tom lived in Bolivar and attended Countryside Assembly church. One day he felt the Holy Spirit speaking to him to start something like Freeway in his own home town. Tom spoke with the pastor and they agreed that he would be a perfect person to reach those in addiction. So God put in Tom’s heart the story of David and Goliath and that is where the name “Sling N Stones” was born, helping others become a David and to “conquer the Giants in their life.” In November 2014, Sling n Stone ministries was launched. Also in 2014 Tom met his wonderful wife Cindy and they were united in marriage in 2015.
As with many in ministry around Springfield, Elaine and I had the great privilege to meet Tom and Cindy around two years ago. Tom and I would meet from time to time and discuss the ups and down of ministry. He had watched some in ministry constantly boast about themselves and their accomplishments. He had some offers to join in with larger and more financially stable ministries but he knew that this was not what the Lord wanted in his life or the ministry of Sling n Stones. Tom and Cindy both decided to be simple, stay humble, trust the Lord, and be good stewards over the little that the Lord gave them. Much fruit has come from this humble attitude and the Lord has blessed them more than they could ever imagine.
Tom and Cindy had a dream to provide the first residential discipleship program in Polk County. After humbly waiting and laboring for Christ, through an incredible path of miracles, they were blessed to get some acreage north of Bolivar with cabins to house a men’s discipleship program. They call it, “Sling n Acres.” Currently they have three men housed who are following a Jesus they had never known before.
Recently, the building they were meeting in each Saturday located in Bolivar, burned down no fault of their own. Yes, there has been hard times, but many more good times. The Lord is faithful to the humble and gracious. As Cindy said, “All Glory and praise to our Heavenly Father.”
Please feel free to bless them in any way by visiting their website. Sling n Stones Ministry
Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”