Meet Heath Stoner

Heath Stoner Director of Operations of Teen Mania's Honor Academy

Heath Stoner Director of Operations

I am Heath Stoner and I have been working on staff in the Honor Academy since 1998.  I grew up in the state of Michigan.  I grew up in a Godly family and put my faith in Christ at a young age.  I graduated high school in 1992 and immediately enrolled in college.  While I was in college, I went on a mission trip with Global Expeditions to Russia.  It was on that trip that I saw other people my age that were different than me.  They had a focus about their life and confidence about who God made them to be. As I began to talk to them I was intrigued by the love they had for God and the nations.  These people on my trip were Honor Academy interns.  I decided at the end of that trip that I would go back to college one more semester and raise money to attend the Honor Academy in January of 1994.  The Honor Academy was a transformation year for me as I grew in my love of God and for people.  After I graduated from the Honor Academy, I attended Oral Roberts University and graduated in 1998.  I began working as a Dorm Director in the Honor Academy in the fall of 1998. I received my Master of Business Adminstration degree from Liberty University in 2010.

I also am the youth pastor at Community Christian Fellowship.  I have been the youth pastor there for nine years.  I love being around young people and being part of their lives.

I have also been married for 13 years to my amazing wife Alisa.  I have 3 incredible children.  Zachariah is 10 years old and enjoys sports.  Sierra is 9 years old and enjoys dancing, drawing, and writing.  She also is an extremely fast runner.  Savannah is 7 years old and enjoys playing with pets, stuffed animals, and eating other people’s food.

  • kendra walters

    i went to ATF in DesMoines twice and each time it has changed me. i want to share this story because it shows what you guys can do. when i was ten my parents deviorced; which was a good thing because my dad was mean. he always denied it but he used to hit and kick me. though it is not as bad as others that i have heard i still had my faith and my mom to guide me. i have been having a hard time moving on and healing and have been trying to find a way to heal. ATF 2011 was the answer! when Joel spoke to us about his life i realized i was not alone and my friends that i had just met were there for me also. it was the answer to my prayer. i asked Joel what to do and now i am writing a letter to my dad saying that i forgive him.

    • heath.stoner

      That was a powerful weekend. Thank you for sharing your story Kendra.

  • Owen White

    Heath,

    I am very happy to hear that you are now co-directing the Honor Academy. Mr. Hasz has always done a stellar job, but the HA has NOTHING to lose and everything to gain by bringing you, your experience, and your heart on board. Wow, though… you have to be a very BUSY man, being a husband, dad, youth pastor and director of the HA. How do you do it?

    • heath.stoner

      Owen–Great to see you on here. I enjoy all of the responsibilities I have. God empowers me in each one. I try to grow in each experience I have and listen to lots of leaders/mentors to influence my decisions in those experiences. I thank God for life each day and the privelege to be about His business of loving people.

  • Heath Lancaster

    Heath,

    I am in a difficult spot in my life right now. I have many callings in my life, but I cannot come to a conclusion where God wants me to be. My true calling is to become a Youth Pastor, like yourself. I’ve prayed, talked to my pastor (aka Dad). My Dad has said to me that I am ready to lead a youth group. Where do I start? How do I start? Other callings are outside the ministry: Fire Fighter and Law Enforcement.

  • heath.stoner

    Wow. Another Heath. I haven’t met many of those in my life.

    If you have other passion’s like being a fire fighter and law enforcement, then you might be a do that for a job and then also be a youth pastor. You have done the right thing like talking to your Pastor about your calling. Wisdom is found in a multitude of counselors.

    As far as next steps, if you haven’t begun to voluteer in the youth ministry area, I would encourage you to do that. Read as many books on youth ministry as you can. I am not sure your age, but formal training would also help.

    If you want to talk anymore, you can email me at heath.stoner@teenmania.org.

  • Heath Lancaster

    sweet thanks.