The History of Standing Stones Ministries
In 1992, the Board of Directors empowered Greg Von Tobel to research available drug and alcohol recovery programs for men. Over the course of the next two years, Mr. Von Tobel completed 5 one-week internship programs around the country in hopes of finding a model program. During this time, Mr. Von Tobel traveled to the outskirts of the Everglades in Okeechobee County to review a program called Dunklin Memorial Camp. It was at this program that Greg decided Dunklin was the type of model that should be incorporated into any program developed in the Pacific Northwest.
Over the next 12 years, Mr. Von Tobel and the Board of Directors searched for the right property only to have one door close after another. In fact over a 100 properties were evaluated, and 7 of those were closely scrutinized. In 2005, where non of those properties were deemed satisfactory and it looked as though we'd hit a dead end, the Lord revealed to the leaders of the ministry a property in the Lower Yakima Valley. This unique piece of property was out in the middle of nowhere and had virtually no neighbors to speak of, making it ideal for a recovery program. In addition to it seemingly being well-suited, the property came with two houses, and a functioning orchard with all of the necessary farm equipment.
Mr. Von Tobel and the Board of Directors decided slowly walk through the doors that seemed to be opening. After two years of working with the county to receive the conditional use permits, the property was purchased in June of 2007. The doors were opened for business that August and the first resident came to the property in the fall.
Standing Stones Ministry is a little slice of paradise where men struggling with life altering drug and alcohol addictions can find help. Standing Stones is a place where men can find their true identity in Christ, where husbands are restored to their wives, where fathers are reconciled to their children and where men can learn to live for God.