Letter from the Committee The Strength of Optimism Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” We greet you this advent season with prayers for joy in Christ’s light as we collectively celebrate our Savior’s birth and cherish the darkness-obliterating truth of His coming. What a gift we have in Him now! How beautiful it is to consider that the manger is also a mere taste of our inheritance in eternity. The verse of “O Ho

Letter from the Committee The Magic of Redemption Fall is officially in session! Or is it in progression, or regression? Wordplay aside, the fall is widely prized as the “favorite” season for its milder temperatures, its vibrant and warm colors, and its heraldry of all spiced and cozy things. Whether it be a wistful few weeks or a flashy few days (depending on where you live), we have the joy of watching nature burst with fiery shades of red, yellow, and orange in a dramatic

Letter from the Committee Self Control “You can choose to eat this one marshmallow. However, if you choose not to eat this marshmallow while I’m gone, then I’ll give you two marshmallows when I return.” This familiar social experiment explores children’s self-control in order to earn greater rewards. In a constant duel between long and short-term gratification, life presents us with daily decisions between restraint and indulgence: Eat that cookie, or drink some more water? M

Letter from the Committee Gentleness A parent whispers, “Be gentle,” to a toddler excitedly meeting their infant sibling; a husband...

The Stoa pillar, “We have a Biblical worldview,” and this year’s theme, Rooted in Truth, make us aware of our longing for truth, and our...

Letter from the Committee Goodness I’m good. It’s fine. True or not, these phrases are almost a reflex in our culture today. Is anyone...

Welcome to the 2025-2026 season! This year we will focus on Stoa's second foundational pillar ("We have a biblical worldview") through...

Letter from the Committee Kindness “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”  Samuel Clemens (better...

Each season, Stoa selects a theme to shape our competitive goals, character, and community. This year’s theme is both urgent and...

Letter from the Committee Peace What seems like every day, headlines are filled with news of fresh outbursts of conflict and growing...

Stoa is Worth It! As Angela Childress steps away from her years of service in Stoa, she reflects on how every moment has been truly Worth...

Letter from the Committee Joy It is more contagious than the flu, and bursts without warning. It is lighter than a feather but can bow...