I'M GOING BACK!!

After about 18 months spent back home in Chicago, I'm finally heading back into ministry at IHOP!  This past year and a half has been a very difficult one.   What was meant to be a season of rest and support-raising was instead a whirlwind of heartache and excursion.

There were the funerals- six of them.  One I couldn't attend, as it was out of state, but it shook me up just the same.

1. A fellow IHOPer who was an incredible inspiration (to a car accident).  2. A dear friend and fellow YWAMer I served with in Australia (to cancer).  3. Our worship pastor and his wife's newborn child (to defect/illness).  4. A co-worker and a young man who was a friend to me at work (to unstated cause).  5. My great aunt and a second mom to my own mother (to a stroke).  6. The 21-year-old daughter of close family friends (to murder).

And there was my job- selling shoes at a major department store.  The most physically and emotionally taxing job I've ever had.

And there was my motorcycle accident- thanks to my full gear, I literally didn't have a scratch.   However, my shoulder is still not healing properly (it was severely dislocated in the crash), and my beloved bike was a total loss.  This is still causing financial strain, and I have been struggling with the effects of PTSD.

And there was my mom's stroke- That was just two weeks after my aunt's fatal stroke, and just one day after the funeral for our friends' daughter who was murdered.  Thankfully, her stroke was only moderate and she has made an almost complete recovery.  I quit my job to stay home and help her around the house, and to drive her around.

And there was my church's move into a new building- On the positive side (but equally stressful), was my church's move to the other side of town, after more than 50 years in the current building, the one I had grown up in.

It wasn't exactly a restful year.

But it was obvious that it was a time to be home.  It allowed me to be there for all but one of the funerals.  And I was there for my mom.  And I was there to help my church with the move a bit (with the sound setup).  And to see my best friend off to the Peace Corps.

Unfortunately, I did not do any of the support-raising I had planned on.  And very suddenly, the door reopened to head back to Kansas City (about a week ago), and I'm caught scrambling.

I still feel too weary from this past year and a half to put much effort into anything.  The thought of trying to hold "a job" (something soul-sucking you do just for a paycheck, like sell shoes), or even to "raise support" seems daunting.  I'm just... tired.

The plan is to ship my clothing and such ahead of time, and ride my motorcycle down (yes, I have a new one) in mid-February.  Of course, weather will play a major part in that plan this time of year.  My exact timing is flexible.

I'll be renting a room in a house with my good friend, Amory.  It's not far from IHOP, and there is a garage and a nice backyard.  And rent is only $260.

The plan is to ease back into life at IHOP.  I'll be filling in on sound as needed at the Hope City location (a prayer room IHOP started in an inner city.  It's attached to a food bank in a rough part of town).

Mostly, I'll be spending a lot of extended time in the Prayer Room, reflecting on this past year.  I'll be seeking God's purpose in this past year, and His desire for my future.

I'll be healing.

From there, I'm sure He'll be launching me into service.  My long-term dream is still for Asia.  But it always comes back to sitting at His feet.  That is my primary service.

I'd love it if you could join me in this.  Financially speaking, my budget is $1200/month, including all my bills, rent, utilities, groceries, gas, insurance, etc.  If you feel so moved, you can click here to make a donation online.  Donations cannot be made through IHOP until I am officially reinstated on staff.

Beyond that, I sure could use friends during this journey, friends who can support me with patience, encouragement, and understanding.  I need prayer, too.  Lots of that.

I'll be regularly updating this website, vlogging on my YouTube ministry channel ("standingbynight") and my motorcycle/parkour channel ("lauriejennifer"), posting regularly on Facebook, and writing on my old school Xanga blog.  You know, just the usual social networking these days (except Twitter.  I don't like Twitter).

Emails, Facebook messages, old-fashioned letters (once my address is known, NOT YET!), phone calls, etc.  Let's try to keep in touch.  Please help hold me accountable on this.  It is vital to my success, and I am lousy at it.

MY OLD INTRO:

Welcome!  My name is Laurie Stock.  I am on staff at the "International House of Prayer" ("IHOP") in Kansas City.  IHOP is primarily a prayer ministry.  IHOP's Prayer Room has had live, non-stop prayer and worship for nearly 10 years now.  The worship never ceases.

Currently there are about 1000 people (mostly young adults) on staff at IHOP, whose primary job or ministry it is to pray and intercede and "stand before the Lord"; and secondly to fulfill all the various roles that it takes to maintain a 24/7 prayer meeting-- musicians, singers, sound and lighting, administration, cleaning, maintenance, ushering, etc.  Beyond the prayer room, there are various conferences and outreaches (local, national, and abroad).

There are also roughly 1000 students and interns partaking in the various training and discipleship programs offered by IHOP.

I count it a great blessing to be a part of such a ministry and surrounded by peers of such a caliber.  This site is my way of introducing you to my life here and to the prayer room, and is a means of keeping in touch with friends, family, and supporters.

~Laurie