Randy Stanko

Growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania was quite the experience preparing Randy for a life of adventure in the recesses of hearts as well as with in the outdoors. Raised in a Christian family, Randy was called to ministry in the 10th grade.

However, God had a different plan for Randy than pastoring a church. After a two year stint in engineering at Penn State University (his years living like Jonah), it became clear that God wanted Randy to minister to families who struggle with reflecting God's character to each other. He first started to work with severely disturbed children and adolescents in 1977. Then he went on to study Psychology and Bible at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri.

He met his wife there in 1980 and they married in 1981 after he graduated with a BS in Psychology and a Concentration in Biblical Studies. He went to graduate school at Pepperdine University, and at the suggestion of a professor, he started doing therapy under supervision after the first trimester and was in a full-time practice by the time he graduated with his Master's Degree in 1984. By 1987, he became very aware of the limitations of traditional practice in psychotherapy and began to pray God's guidance to learn how to reach families that have been seriously entrenched in dysfunctional patterns of relating.

By 1989 he had co-developed an inpatient therapy program called The Journey's Program designed to help treat teen and adult Christians who struggle with psychological disorders. Today, he is known throughtout the country for coaching Christians within a goal oriented milue for extended hours which can range from an entire day to multiple days, within settings ranging from their home, to mountain cabins or isolated camping experiences. Randy is called to help broken hearts heal; to help fathers be fathers and husbands be husbands, and to help those who've been broken receive God's restoration.

A licensed minister since 1984, Randy now pastors a small congregation in Ouray, CO.

Essentially, Randy's life Bible verse is: Isaiah 61:1-3

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." (NIV)

To contact Randy you may reach him through:

Email:   randy@m-f-l.org
US Post:   PO Box 698; Ridgway, CO 81432
Phone:   (970) 626-4202