Looking Back with Gratitude and Forward with Hope

I was standing in a service with my grandpa on one side and my parents on the other when tears started clouding my vision. We were singing "It is Well with My Soul," and I heard my grandpa, who had just weeks ago lost his wife of 68 years, echo in the refrain, “It is well. . . it is well with my soul.” In that moment, all I could do was take it in and pray, “Thank You, Jesus.” 
 
Stepping into the role of editor for the Fellowship Focus feels like returning to family. I’d love for you to know me a little more than just words on a page or screen, so here’s a glimpse into where I’ve come from and who I am today.  
 
I grew up attending Crosspoint Bible Church in Omaha, Nebraska. My grandpa once served as FEBC President, and my dad is the Ministries Coordinator, which has given me an awareness of and appreciation for the FEBC.   
 
During my teen years at Crosspoint, my faith grew and deepened in ways that have sustained me through feeling outcast, dealing with depression, walking through anxiety, and, recently, learning how to grieve.  After high school, I moved to Olathe, Kansas, for college, where I met my husband, Josh. We got married in June of 2023, and he started pastoring at a Nazarene church in Fremont, Nebraska. We moved to Indiana the next summer for Josh to serve as the youth pastor at a large church, expecting to settle in for the long haul. Instead, that year became unexpectedly challenging and stretching. It was a season that led us to cling to God’s guidance more than ever and ultimately brought us back to family. 
 
In the middle of that chaos, I was blessed to be able to attend CONNECT25. My husband had just lost his job, we were hoping to move soon, and I was grieving so much at once: the loss of my grandmother, the loss of the life we’d planned in Indiana, feeling like we were having to start all over again, and the dreams Josh and I would need to reimagine.  
 
During a confusing, draining time, when I could have stayed home in Indiana and bought another planner to "figure things out,” instead, that service- the moment with my family singing "It Is Well with My Soul"- reminded me I was not alone. Surrounded by believers who genuinely wanted to see God move in the lives of others, CONNECT became one of the most hopeful, peaceful, and life-giving experiences of my year. I was challenged by the messages, encouraged by the worship, and poured into through the breakout sessions. I left CONNECT feeling renewed and more grateful for the FEBC than ever before. If there is one place you can be next summer, make it CONNECT26. 
 
Jesus used that season and this Fellowship to bring us back to Nebraska and back into community. The past year had been lonely and confusing, but Jesus stayed close, faithfully reminding me of the beauty of the local church and the importance of hearing what He is doing among His people. 
 
The Fellowship Focus is one way we stay connected as a family of churches.  As your new editor, I want this publication to reflect the real heartbeat of the Fellowship. If you have a story to share or an interest in contributing in some other way, please contact me at [email protected] or connect with your pastor or church correspondent.  
 
Stories remind us of God’s activity in everyday church life. They encourage congregations that may feel small, isolated, or weary. They create unity across distance, help us celebrate answered prayer, and show us how God is moving in ways we might never see unless someone shares it.  
 
This publication isn’t just information. It’s a way to see God’s hand across the Fellowship. As someone shaped by this Fellowship from childhood, I’m grateful for the foundation it gave me. And now, I’m honored to step into this role, looking back with gratitude and forward with hope.   
 
In Christ, 
Sarah Stutler 
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Stutler grew up attending an FEBC church and became the editor of the Fellowship Focus in 2025. She and her husband, Josh, live in Fremont, Nebraska, where they both work at Midland University.