John and Win Stanford
John and Win Stanford have attended First EFC for 38 years. They’ve served in just about every ministry in the church “except directing the choir,” says John. They have seen the struggles and they’ve seen God use this body of believers to impact the world for Christ.
“Through the years we’ve thought of our church as a sending church. Hundred and hundreds of students and others have come through Ames.” Win explains, “These people learn, grow, and are trained, then they leave and become leaders in their church—in the U.S. and in foreign countries.”
First EFC has been a training center for students and for the Stanfords, the church has been a learning place for their own family. John and Win have two grown children, Jim and Wendy. “The church has been a huge, huge benefit to our kids. During their teen years, others in the church came alongside our kids to provide godly influence and to pray,” says Win. “Both of our kids are believers and both are married to godly spouses. All through the years they’ve had godly examples to follow in this church.”