John Stanley has been trying for years to save people’s souls over cups of coffee, but he can’t drink it.
“I did, until all this immigration stuff started,” Stanley said. “Now I’m too nervous as it is.”
A tall, lean Australian who favors paisley shirts, keeps his long hair tied in a bandanna and rides a donated Harley, Stanley is an unlikely looking Episcopal missionary.
His mission is odder still. A bright, airy coffeehouse, seemingly plucked from the suburbs and dropped among the abandoned storefronts of Aliquippa, Uncommon Grounds is Stanley’s base for starting a spiritual and civic revival of the decaying former mill town.
Our youth group did two mission’s trips with John in Aliquippa. He is an exceptional man with an exceptional mission. I trust and pray he and his family get the support they need and they stay in the US.
This is a wonderful story. We should pray that he will be allowed to stay in the US. What he is doing is very much in line with what is ging on at Trinity in Ambridge; I wonder whether they are working together? Anyway, thanks so much for bringing this story to our attention.
As a graduate of Aliquippa High School, I’m pleased to see this story. Haven’t lived there for over 40 years, but my parents still do. Franklin Avenue led straight through the main gate of Jones and Laughlin Steel, and the payday shoppers made the Avenue alive.
I heard today that the INS has granted an alien number to the Stanley family meaning that can now legally stay in the country while their status is finally ajudicated! Praise God
Thanks be to God indeed! We need foreign missionaries here to spread the Gospel to our people!
This Church Army mission really is a great thing. There is an article describing it in a bit more depth on the Pittsburgh diocesan website:
http://www.pgh.anglican.org/news/local/uncommongrounds012306
I am originally from the Diocese of Pittsburgh (from Beaver Falls to be exact). I now live in Erie, Diocese of Northwestern PA. I do still receive the Trinity Newsletter and have been following the articles on the wonderful mission the Church Army is doing in Aliquippa. I am praying for the Stanleys and the future of their work.