Kristy Stone: A HeavenEarth Conversation "Finding Purpose in Community"

What would it look like to start a community that was really,

it's for the people like Jesus would be for?

Welcome to Heaven Earth Church.

I'm Ross Stackhouse, the founding pastor of Heaven Earth Church.

From the start, our heart has been to be a church for people who

don't fit neatly into church.

We want to meet people where they are and know their stories.

Because in every story, there is God's story.

And this podcast, podcast is just about that.

It's about inviting you into the stories of the people of Heaven

Earth Church.

So let's turn to the story.

Hello, good people.

Welcome to the Heaven Earth Church podcast.

This is the church that's looking to make a lasting impact

in our community.

And one of the things we love to do here on the podcast is to talk

to people who are part of the Heaven Earth Church community.

My name is Brad Miller.

I help to produce the podcast.

Our pastor is Ross Stackhouse and we have connections with lots

of great people.

And one of the great people we're talking to today, her name

is Christy Stone.

So, Christy, welcome to our conversation.

Hi, Brad.

Thank you.

Thanks for having me on today.

Awesome, awesome.

Glad to have you and meet you and be part of the podcast so people

can get to know you a little bit and see your smiling face and

see what you're all about and learn about you.

So let's just kind of, let's just kind of start here.

What's hometown for you?

Where are you from?

So originally I was born in Greenwood, but when I was about one

and a half, we moved out to Cloverdale, Indiana, which is about

40 miles west of Indianapolis, right in between Indianapolis and

Terre haute, right off I70.

Same exit as Greencastle, DePaul University.

Small little town, Cloverdale.

There I graduated with about 82 people in the class of 2001.

So.

So yeah.

So small town.

Born.

Well, not born, but raised there.

Was there until I went to school in college and I went down

to Evansville for that at the University of Southern Indiana and

then kind of wounded back up here in Johnson county or south side

of Indianapolis now.

Yeah.

Well, tell me one cool thing about growing up in Cloverdale.

What was something that made it unique or home for you?

So I really is that small town like feel and everything.

It's just everybody knows everybody and I am fortunate that

I have this good group of friends that there was like four

of us, you know, two or three of us met in kindergarten and we

were, we're still friends to this day.

I actually had lunch with one of them Yesterday and then our fourth

came along in about eighth grade.

And the four of us are still really super connected and just that

lifelong friendship bond and just kind of still being connected

to that small town feel.

I think that's what gives it that special uniqueness.

Well, that is awesome, that heritage going on.

So that, that's awesome.

Well, you have any brothers, sisters, your parents, that type

of thing as well?

Yeah, absolutely.

So.

So my parents, my.

I am one of six.

I am the baby, the only girl.

My mom had three boys and then my dad had two, and then they got

together and had me.

So we're a his, mine and ours blended family.

But I am the only one from the two together.

And I am the conn and the glue and.

And then my, you know, I'm the only girl.

And my parents were older when they had me, so they were 42.

My mom turned 43 the next day.

So my brother's range in about 21 to 14 years older than me.

So I was kind of raised as an only child on top of being the only

girl.

So.

So everybody's family got some unique aspects to it.

That's part of.

Part of yours then as well.

So was church life, faith life a part of growing up in your family?

So we, we're a little.

There's a little bit of blending there as well.

So my mom was actually raised for the most part, Jehovah's Witness,

and she did take me to the Kingdom hall until I was about five

years old.

Um, we didn't necessarily practice, um, all the rules, if you

will, um, still kind of celebrated holidays here and there,

um, things like that.

And so it was her and I, um, but, you know, she was by herself

kind of doing that.

And you know, knowing that we wanted to kind of still have, you

know, celebrations and things.

She, she veered off when I was about 5.

But then I, the My friend from kindergarten, she was very heavily

involved in a local church there, her and her family.

And I started attending with her on Wednesdays and Sundays in

about third grade.

And from then on through high school, I, I went to that church

and attended with her family.

Yeah.

So it was a part of your life.

Some nuances there with the Joe is with sort of faith life was

a part of your life.

Yeah.

And you went off to college at USI University of Southern Indiana.

Tell me a little bit of what got you there and what, what did

you do there.

So really kind of building on that small town feel.

So myself and two of the others from that original four, I

Talked about.

We decided to go to the University of Southern Indiana together.

It was very small.

I only had to a bathroom with one other person.

And so, you know, I wanted to branch out.

It was also kind of, it was about two and a half hours away from

home, so it was like close enough that I could still get back

if I needed to, but I was far enough away that I had that separation.

I felt like so I could go and kind of do, you know, learn.

Learn how to be an adult.

Right.

And actually that I think is probably some of the next questions

that you'll get into.

But so Joanna Burnett, who is.

Her maiden name is Stackhouse, she is Ross's.

That her and I met freshman year at college.

Yes.

It was kind of an immediate connection there and definitely a

lifelong friendship formed from that as well.

Similar backgrounds.

They are from, you know, kind of a smaller town as well.

You know, we were kind of on the, I was on the west side of Indianapolis,

they were on the east side of Indianapolis.

And then her and I met in college.

She had, you know, a core group of friends and a lot of good

friends.

And we kind of blended our circles as we, as we met and kind

of brought those two cores together.

Yeah.

But tell me something interesting or about your college

years that may have kind of led you to do kind of what you end

up doing in your adult life.

Tell me a little bit about your experiences there.

Good, bad, otherwise.

Yeah, so I was actually in college for radio television.

I did get a Bachelor's of arts in radio Television Communications

degree.

And so I had this dream that I was going to be a radio DJ or eventually

maybe a talk show host.

Rosie o' Donnell was kind of an idol when I was growing up watching

her talk show.

And so I thought that's where I was going.

But what I did was I ended up first full time job out of college

because coming back to the Indianapolis market, kind of hard

to get into the media realm of life.

And so I first full time job out of college was in optometry.

I was a technician and actually somebody Joanna went to

high school with, you know, was a manager at an optometry practice

and needed a technician.

So that's kind of how I fell into it.

And I just ended up learning so much.

And I grew professionally, matured professionally in the optometry

industry and so ended up.

Yes.

Yeah.

So worked in a practice for 12 and a half years at that point.

At this time.

I'm now in my.

Going on my 20th year in the industry and now I Kind of do more

behind the scenes, but I provide continuing education for

independent optometrist.

That's awesome.

Was faith life a part of your college area experience in your early

adult, Doug?

So, you know, you go, you go off to college, you, you start learning

and kind of exploring different, different things and,

you know, trying to kind of see what the world has to offer.

Right.

So I will say that I was definitely more in tune as a young

adult and you know, I'm sorry, like a teenager and in my adolescence

more so because I had that connection with my friend and her

family.

However, in college, you know, we had some wild times, some wild,

wild days and things.

However, I did always still feel connected because I was surrounded

by my friend that I had grown up with and her family for the most

part.

And then meeting, meeting Joanna, I mean, her and I still had

that, that roots in a faith based, you know, foundation.

And so that's something that kind of kept us grounded from time

to time, I believe.

So even though we weren't as close or in tune as we should have

been, probably there was definitely still that pulse check

that we'd give each other every once in a while.

Tell me, how about in your adult life, you entered the workforce

now, Thomas Fee industry.

You, I think you kind of stayed around the Indianapolis area

for the most part since you graduated college in South Thomas

Community and a streak.

So how is it that you ended up eventually to get introduced to heaven

or a church?

How did this become a part of your life?

Yeah, so again, you know, meeting Joanna in our early, you

know, late teens, early 20s, you know, Ross was still, still a

young, young adolescent.

I don't even think he was a teenager yet.

And so just, you know, that big sister role, if you will, kind

of coming, becoming friends with the family and, and just being

there.

When we heard that Ross was starting this, this endeavor here

in Johnson county.

And yes, I did live locally and Joanna actually had moved out

of state.

So my Joanna, Joanna had moved out of state.

And so when Ross was starting the church here kind of as that big

sister role, like with her kind of not here to support.

She had reached out and he had reached out.

Yeah, like, I felt kind of like, okay, it's like I'm going to

go support and see this.

And I'd been wanting, I'd been feeling a nudge and like to get back

kind of, you know, get more ingrained and back into the flow

and rituals and things.

And I was like, okay, I need to, to of get back to that and, and

Also, I'm, you know, I'm supporting.

Right.

And so I started showing up at Johnson's barbecue.

That's where he was, you know, holding.

Holding everything.

And just it.

It just.

It reignited the fl.

The fire and the flame in me that I had felt early on.

So were you.

I.

Were you involved with any other faith community prior to exploring

Heming Church?

So when I was growing up, there was a hometown church down

there, New Providence Baptist Church.

We went there growing up again with my friend and her family.

They're very involved.

Her father's one of the.

An associate pastor there.

And.

And so, you know, very involved.

I, you know, kind of always had that as a home base.

So when I'd go home, I'd go back to that church or anything.

No, no, no.

So I had kind of.

Yeah.

No, in adulthood, college and then into adulthood, I never had

found another, like, home.

What I missed in the end here, Krista, is kind of some initial impressions

that you had.

You know, you had this experience of Joanna, you know, her

as your friend and you, Ross, kind of as the kid brother hanging

around.

That kind of stuff, I would assume.

And then.

But give me some initial impressions by when you connected

up with the beginnings of the church several years ago now.

Yeah.

So first impressions.

Yeah.

So, I mean, again, it was that.

That spark, that kind of.

I felt, you know, where there had been a. Reignited the flame then

also, I was like, there's something different.

There's something different about how it feels.

And it just felt more natural and organic.

And I really tried to not have that biased or, you know, that.

Because, you know, again, little brother.

Right.

He's like my little brother.

So of course I'm going to support and love, you know, what.

What we're doing here.

But it was like, you know, I wanted to feel it for, like, as I'm

a person coming in and, like, you know, experiencing it.

Not with that bias.

Yeah.

It's a little deeper thing to get connected.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And when you felt that and saw that happening, you know, with new,

you know, with strangers or with people that I had never, you

know, met, and then you get back to that feeling of knowing that,

like, people are placed in your life for a reason.

People are, you know, things happen at the times that they happen

for a reason.

You're starting to kind of see those.

Those glimmers or those, you know, your reminders of, like, okay,

yeah, this.

We're part of something bigger.

Yeah.

Was there any time in that arrow when you kind of had kind of

an aha moment kind of, okay, is this.

Just checking it out, being supportive, this kind of thing.

But this is, for me now, was there any moment or any season of

life when you kind of said, okay, I'm going to get invested in

this?

It.

You know, honestly, in the beginning, it was, you know, I got

really kind of consistently and deeply involved when the move

was happening from Johnson's to this building, actually.

And, you know, I actually.

Russ had asked us, myself and another friend to join the board.

And so I was getting a little bit deeper involved with the relationship

here.

And then seeing that migration to this building, how that process

went.

And then it was like I had that, you know, I again felt that

spark.

But then it was like, as you met people or started to have different

conversations and saw how things come together with, like,

a church plant, it was like, again, getting, you know, having

that, like, validation inside of your heart and that peace.

So, like, overall joy.

But then immediately after all of that was Covid, and I actually

had, like, a really hard struggle with that because I was

planning a wedding in Covid, and we ended up having to postpone

it.

And it just felt like there was a lot of uncertainty, unknowns,

and we were able to still be connected as the church through that.

And so that just really, like, bonded.

And like, that's where I started to feel like, like more of

that community versus just, I'm here for support.

It was a time going through that really crucible type of experience

together.

You came out of the other side, and here you are.

You're still a part of things, even more committed than ever seemed

like to me.

But what do you think that's kind of how you got involved and

you went through this crucible experience here.

So what keeps you at heaven or church?

What keeps you here again?

You know, community at the people, the.

The transparency, the fact that we are able to come as we are,

that all questions are welcome.

We're not, you know, put.

We're not trying to fit everything into the square box.

That's.

That's a big thing that keeps me here.

One of the things we could set about having our church and one of

the models at the church to be.

If you feel like you don't fit the church, you're sitting here.

Tell me, do you think that's an accurate statement?

And a soul.

How have you seen that lived out?

Yeah.

So I.

You know, one thing I always tell people when they first come

is like, we're just a bunch of misfits.

And, you know, we're Just all still trying to figure it out ourselves.

Nobody has the answer, you know, and so I definitely see that.

I.

The.

Just the various demographics of everybody that can come together

here and that.

Just the fellowship that you see amongst us and the welcoming,

it's.

It.

There's something different about when you're here with everybody,

and it's.

It's hard to put it into words.

Yeah, I think your partial story is indicative of that.

And.

And it seemed like you've seen this happening, this transition happening

with other people.

You don't have to give names or anything like that, but have you

seen that type of thing happen with other people where they've kind

of had their own aha moment, where they had their own kind of

powerful transition?

Oh, yeah.

And, you know, kind of going back to when you asked me about my

aha moment, this kind of feeds into that a little bit because I

had a very big second one that was like when I was on the board

and we were searching for a new administrative person and some

of the changes that we had.

A few years ago, Ross asked us to, you know, we were going to have

a silent prayer time and to just think about any names that possibly

came to mind.

And I know she won't mind if I say this, but.

So Ashley, who ended up working here, her name actually came

to my mind at that point when we were silently praying.

And in the moment, I kind of was like, oh, I can't really like.

Cause I knew he was gonna ask us.

And I felt weird because I had this name just repeat over and over

in my head.

She was an acquaintance.

Not necessarily.

I mean, she was a friend, but not somebody I was super close with

or somebody I hung out with.

So there was no reason that her name should have really been

on my mind in that moment.

And when we said, okay, you know, dear Heavenly Father, we went

down to pray.

It was just like her name just kept repeating over and over and

over.

And so then she ended up working here for the time that she

did, and it was definitely, like, complete godsend.

Like, we needed her, she needed us in that time.

I reached out after, so we talked about it on the prayer.

I was very, like, kind of like, whoa.

What happened?

Reached out to her and just was like, hey, I know this might

sound weird, but this is what happened.

And I just.

If you're interested or looking for a job right now, I'd

love to get you connected.

And her and Ross talked and, you know, the rest was history.

So.

So, yeah, felt like it was a God moment.

For her and for the church, but also an affirming moment for

you as well.

It's kind of God's in this thing.

I like, you know, kind of see those as, oh, God moments or love

in the throat moments.

You go, okay, there's something cool.

Yeah, it.

You.

You.

You felt like.

And it's like.

And then I saw the entire thing play out from start to finish.

And it's like, that's where I am really focused on trying to, like,

listen for God to speak to me because I do think that he's constantly

speaking to us.

And like, I laugh and say he's in a recalculating moment because

we're constantly turning left when we should turn right.

But, you know, trying to really tune out all the other minutia

and noise and listen to the Holy Spirit talk to me to tell me

what God's trying to guide us to do.

It's very hard and way easier said than done.

But because I've had that experience, I know that it is like,

it can happen.

Recalculating moment.

That's kind of like on your GPS system, kind of recalculate your

directions or whatever.

Yes.

And sound like you had that experience yourself.

But.

Yeah.

Do you see having our church as kind of a safe place, as it were,

for people to have those recalculating money?

Absolutely.

That's what I mean when it's like, all questions are welcome.

You know, one thing that Ross says a lot, especially when he's

praying, is, you know, lord, help our belief, but also.

Also help our unbelief.

And, you know, that to me, is that, like, you know, it's okay to

have those questions and just, you know, kind of something he was

saying, you know, today is, you know, prayer is a conversation

with God.

I mean, you're just speaking out what's on your heart and mind

already.

And, you know, I even shared, you know, he knows what's in your

heart and mind already.

So why are we trying to worry about how we're presenting that to

him?

One of the things that.

One of the parts of the mission statement of our church is

to we exist to make a lasting impact in our community.

So what does that statement mean to you?

Do you think it's accurate, for one thing?

And.

But then what does it mean to you?

Yeah, I mean, to see the relationships that we have forged

so far in this community and with the various groups out there

that are just out there helping any, you know, anyone that

they can or, you know, in their.

In their.

Or specific Areas where they help, if it's kids related, if it's,

you know, adults related, homeless related, different things

that we've been in tune with and the experiences that we've been

able to kind of experience together in our community.

It's.

It's been something amazing to watch.

And so it's like, I do feel like that is something that is super

focused.

And I think that too is what is different, especially in the way

that we look in the recovery space.

I think that's such a needed thing in our, in our area, in our

state.

And I think that, you know, the fact that we touch so deeply

into that, it really proves to say like we are about the community

and all of it good, bad and ugly.

Right.

You mentioned there about the recovery community and that one area.

Where am I church?

60 people who have various levels of brokenness in their life

and distress in their life.

And I want to turn around this, kind of bring our conversation

to close next couple of minutes here.

Chris, with this.

What do you think if a person was in your life, a co worker, a

friend, a person that, you know, relative perhaps has some issue

in their life that's pretty sensitive, whether it be whatever,

health delay, relationship issue, job related, you know, they're

having some distress and they've confided in you about it.

And I got a feeling you're the type of pre person that you vote

go to sometimes.

Is that a fair thing to say?

Yes, very much so.

But is this the.

Is heaven or church the type of place that you'd feel comfortable

inviting someone to make a part of their process of navigating

their issue, part of us sharing with you?

But you could you feel this type of place that they, that you

would feel comfortable inviting them and for them to be.

To take the next steps?

Yeah, absolutely.

I love the fact that we offer our live stream of, of what we do

here because I feel like that's a very good way for people

to kind of dip their toes in, if you will, for lack of a better

term.

And, you know, they can kind of get a feel for the experience.

You know, you are right.

I do have, you know, friends do come to me a lot and I, I always,

you know, let them know, like I'm very open and I share, you know,

on Facebook, my relationship with our church and you know, that

I'm very involved.

And so people know that I'm gonna, you know, probably recommend

that.

And they also know I'm not gonna judge them if they don't decide

to take part in it.

But, but I absolutely let them know that like this is a place that

I've found some peace and comfort and I just invite them in

and let them know like they're going to come here and they're going

to receive, you know, openness, welcomeness and you know,

not no judgment.

And so.

But I let them know it's on their terms as well.

Well, let's put it this kind of closer conversation with this.

And Krista, you've mentioned about how other people have come

to you and you've been able to share in your future.

You'll have urgent couple of place but let's just say there's

people, somebody watching, listening to our conversation here

today who's having their own issues going on.

They may not know you or me or others, but would you just share

that person that, why that they, that heaven or church may be

placed.

They may want to at least check out?

Yeah.

I mean again, it's that some things that words just may not be

the best way to describe it until you come and experience it.

But I'm always one of those people that like, don't knock it

till you try it.

Right.

And you never know what you're going to get.

And if, you know, you come and meet a few people and you, you know,

maybe, you know, are enlightened, what.

What's the harm in that, you know.

So I just think, you know, come and you know, experience what

you can and hopefully, you know, you make a connection and,

and want to come, maybe come back again.

That's a relatively safe place to be.

So.

Right.

Yes, 100% absolutely.

Well, her name is Christy Stein.

As she's indicated she'd been a of.

Part.

Part of the connection here at Heaven Church for several years now.

Six, seven years, something like that.

Yeah, yeah, right at about six.

And person that you need to know here at Heaven Earth Church.

And thank you for being our guest today and just we love to have

good conversations with people like Christy and others here on Heaven.

Earth to Church podcast.

We invite people to chat about the worship experiences Sunday mornings

on Reading street and White Men Indiana and [email protected]

church and on Facebook too.

But we look for people to be connected to a.

A church whose mission is to make a lasting impact in our community.

So I'm Brad Miller here with the Heaven Church podcast and on

behalf of our guest Christy Stone, we thank you for being a part

of our broadcast and look forward to serving you very soon

at Heaven or Church.

We want to thank you for spending time with us today.

My name is Ross Stackhouse, the pastor to Heaven Earth Church,

and you may think out there that your story is over, but in fact,

your faith story may just be beginning.

If you want more information about our church or you're interested

in the next step, you can go to heavenorthchurch.org Otherwise,

we look forward to being with you next time at the Heaven Earth

Church podcast.