A Tribute to Pastor Stan Long — Founding Board Chair of The PETNA Foundation

Some people leave their mark through grand gestures. Pastor Stan Long left his through something quieter and far more lasting—the simple, steady act of believing in people before they believed in themselves.

From the very first days of The PETNA Foundation, Pastor Long served as our Board Chair, but his role extended far beyond governance. He was the kind of leader who saw potential where others saw inexperience, who offered wisdom without condescension, and who understood that true mentorship means standing beside someone until they find their own footing.

He had a gift for recognizing what was possible in a person long before that person could see it. How many of us took on responsibilities we thought were beyond us, only because Pastor Long quietly insisted we were ready? How many times did his steady confidence become the bridge between our doubt and our capability?

His care for people was not selective. It didn't matter who you were, where you came from, or what you were facing—Pastor Long showed up with the same genuine concern for your wellbeing. He listened. He prayed. He acted. He understood that serving others wasn't a duty to be performed but a calling to be lived.

As a mentor, he taught us that wisdom isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking the right questions and trusting the process. As a friend, he reminded us that leadership and warmth are not opposites. As a pastor, he showed us what it looks like to shepherd with both strength and tenderness.

The PETNA Foundation exists today in no small part because of the foundation he laid—not just in structures and strategies, but in values and vision. His fingerprints are on everything we do, and his spirit lives on in every life we touch.

Pastor Stan Long, we are grateful beyond words. For your wisdom. For your faith in us. For your boundless heart.

You saw what we could become. We will spend the rest of our days trying to live up to it. 

With love and deepest gratitude, The PETNA Foundation