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LEADERS TOOLS
Wondering how to share your faith? Sometimes it's as simple as telling your story.

Read how to create your
3-5 Minute testimony.

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STONECROFT MINISTRIES CORE OF VOLUNTEERS
Whether you're a Christian leader in your community, your church, or a Stonecroft Ministries volunteer, you'll find everything that you need to fulfill your role in Christian women's ministry.

Stonecroft understands and appreciates the influence of one woman’s life. When you reach a woman for Christ, you touch everyone in her community—her husband, children, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Stonecroft provides the encouragement and equipping to help women be effective in reaching those communities.

If you are currently serving on a Stonecroft Planning Team, or as a Stonecroft Bible Studies leader and need login information, please contact the Outreach Department at (800) 525-8627 or email connections@stonecroft.org.

Welcome to Stonecroft Leaders Online, a women's ministry dedicated to equipping and encouraging women to impact their community for Jesus Christ.

What is True Faith?
By Peggy Banks, Director of Leadership Development

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised."—Hebrews 11:39, NIV

I'm always encouraged when I hear the hearts of our Stonecroft Interns. The devotion below comes from a former Intern, Brittany Schwindt, who is currently helping in our Events Department.

What is True Faith?
Even Giants of Faith Face Disappointment
By Brittany Schwindt, Stonecroft Intern
Summer 2009

Reading between the lines tells us a lot about the original audience of the book of Hebrews. Converting to Christ brought them much abuse, confiscation of property, public insult, and even imprisonment.

In the early days, they accepted such persecution gladly, even joyfully. As the trials continued, however, some began to lose heart.

To these discouraged people, Hebrews 11 presented a stirring reminder of true faith. It's tempting to think of faith as a kind of magic formula—if you muster up enough of it, you'll get rich, stay healthy, and live a contented life with automatic answers to all prayers. Yet, how does one "muster up" faith? What are the signs of true faith?

The first century Christians discovered that life does not always follow a predictable pattern of happy endings. Hebrews explains why they should not have been surprised by this. Chapter 11 launches into a detailed description of faith, complete with references to several dozen biographical models from the Old Testament.

So, what is faith—and how can you be sure you've got it? The picture of faith that emerges in Hebrews 11 does not fit into a formula. Sometimes, faith leads to victory and triumph. Other times, it requires a gritty determination to hang on at any cost. Hebrews 11 does not hold up one kind of faith as being superior to the other. Both rest on the belief that God is in ultimate control and will indeed keep his promises—whether in this life or the next. The author of Hebrews uses words and phrases such as "persevere" (10:36), "do not lose heart" (12:5), and "endure" (12:7). In many instances, the heroes cited in Chapter 11 did not receive the promise they had hoped for. Some were flogged and ended up hiding out, wearing goat skins. Many died horrible deaths. Of such people, Hebrews says: "God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them" (11:16).

Faith, the author concludes, most resembles a difficult race. The runner has his eye on the winner's prize and, despite temptations to slacken the pace, he refuses to let up until he crosses the finish line. "Throw off everything that hinders" (12:1), he coaches.

The faith described in Hebrews is not sugar-coated and does not guarantee a life of luxury or ease. It is a tough faith: a constant commitment to hang on and believe God against all odds—no matter what.