Stanley
My blogs
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Occupation | urban minister |
| Location | Rockford, IL |
| Introduction | I was hired in 1985 and still am the executive director of Rockford Urban Ministries, an outreach of 25 congregations (mainly United Methodist). A long-time Rockford resident, I am a Vietnam veteran, having served in the US Army from Feb. ’69 until Oct ’71. I found healing by helping others and working for civil rights and social justice. I helped establish a food pantry after graduating from Rock Valley Community College in 1976. I learned to hate war while I was in Vietnam. Upon my return home, I marched with other veterans against that war. And I learned to love God by handing out food in a food pantry. I’ve been on numerous peace missions including Nicaragua in 1985; Guatemala in 1986; a return trip with Vietnam veterans in 1987; and the occupied territories of Israel in 1988 during the first intifada. I joined a Volunteers In Mission/UMCOR work camp to Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1996, and a delegation of the National Council of Churches to Cuba in 2004. |
| Interests | Politics, philosophy, staying alive, pretty people and lost causes that could be won. |