Fit to be Tied

06/18/2026

1 Kings 18:41 “Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of abundance of rain.’”

Don’t stop chasing your dreams or what God has spoken to you just because someone else doesn’t believe it or see it.

Other people are deaf to your sounds and blind to your visions. Not everyone can hear the rain when the sky is still clear.

Just keep a steady hand on the reins and ride toward the vision God has already given.

06/15/2026

Coffee, Bible, notepad, and campfire - horses munching hay and cool temps. And somebody asked me, “Why do you do these rodeo Bible camps?”

We are at Josh and Holly Rushing’s for a couple days before camp starts Wednesday at Riverside Cowboy Church.

I look forward to this every year. There's just something special about seeing the next generation growing in their faith from the seat of a saddle.

This year’s theme: “Breaking Barriers.”

Restraint is a good thing. After all, it's the banks that keep rivers from becoming swamps. But a barrier is something in our way that prevents us from reaching our true potential.

It's important to learn the difference. See y'all at the round pen!

06/06/2026

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

For nearly 25 years, many of you have known us as Latin American Ministry (LAM).

Others know us through Fit to Be Tied, which has become one of the most visible expressions of our ministry in recent years. As God has continued to expand the opportunities before us, both internationally and here at home, we felt it was time for a name that better reflects the full scope of what He has called us to do.

Today, we're excited to officially announce a new chapter in our ministry:

Latin American Ministry is now 1930 Ministries, and our new website is live!

This transition was first announced in our June newsletter, but we wanted to share it here as well.

While the name is changing, our mission remains the same.

The name 1930 Ministries comes from Luke 19:30:

"You will find a c**t tied; loose him and bring him to Me."

That verse has been at the heart of our ministry for decades. It inspired the Fit to Be Tied message and reflects a simple principle that has guided our lives and ministry:

Find. Loose. Bring. Because the Lord has need of it.

Under the banner of 1930 Ministries, our work continues through:

• International Missions
• Traveling Ministry
• The Round Pen and Fit to Be Tied
• The Gathering (coming soon)

We're also excited to launch our new website, where you can learn more about each area of ministry, stay connected, and follow along with what God is doing.

👉 www.1930ministries.org

📬 While you're there, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive ministry updates and our digital newsletter directly in your inbox.

A special thank you to our daughter, Brittney Lawley, for the incredible amount of work she has invested in this project. The new website is the result of weeks of planning, design, and hard work on her part. We are proud of her willingness to use her gifts and talents to help move this ministry forward.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and faithful partnership over the years. We are grateful for all God has done through this ministry and excited for what lies ahead.

— Santiago Jim Stockdale & Pam Stockdale

1930 Ministries exists to share the Gospel through missions, outreach, and local ministry events. Learn more about our work and how you can partner with 1930 Ministries today.

05/08/2026

Ride Ready.

​That's what we tell our grandchildren when they climb into the saddle (or when we set them in it, in Caroline's case).

​We tell them to "ride ready" because even the most well-trained horse in the most predictable situation still weighs 1,200 pounds... and they’re still sitting five feet off the ground. We want them to know that things can change in an instant. And when it does, their preparedness has to be stronger than their natural instincts.

​The same goes for life. We’re called to live ready because even the most stable situations can turn in a heartbeat. Believe me, I've lived through my fair share of those moments.

​Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 to "keep watch" because we do not know on what day the Lord will come. He gives us one parable after another about the cost of being caught unprepared. Just like our training keeps us from panicking when things go western in the saddle, our faith should keep us from panicking when life goes pear-shaped.

As much as we want to panic, we must learn to sit back and trust the only One who is truly worthy of it. We have to learn to lean on the everlasting arms.

​My children like to adapt a quote from The Incredibles and tell each other: "What are you talking about? You are a child of God! Pull yourself together!" It's exactly right, too. If we choose our spiritual preparedness over our frantic instincts and lean on the Father, we’ll be living ready for whatever is heading our way—even if that "whatever" is the Day of the Lord. And oh, what a wonderful day that will be!

​By the way... After months of telling our littles to "ride ready" without ever explaining the mechanics of it, we finally asked 4-year-old Caroline what she thought it meant.

​Her response?

"It means hang on!"

​Hang on, believers. I know a Man who will never let you down if you just hang on to Him.

04/25/2026

We're on! The weather looks like it's gonna hold off until this afternoon.

Festivities will begin on schedule at 10 and I'll be taking the round pen at 11.

If you're in the area, come on out to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Flintville, TN and hear how if you want to be used for something, you first have to be tied to something.

God's going to be doing great things today and you aren't gonna want to miss it!

04/24/2026

Don't forget: Fit to be Tied - Pleasant Hill Baptist Church is tomorrow!

The forecast is calling for some morning rain, but we aren't letting a little water stop us. I’m thankful for a host church that gives us the flexibility to wait out the clouds so we can still share the Gospel. And I'm not afraid to get a little mud on my boots!

The church is hosting a full kids day, other events starting at 10:00, and hotdogs at noon, so there’s plenty going on all day.

The start time for FTBT is posted for 11:00, but with weather delays, we may kick off closer to 1:00. Check the FTBT page for updates.

But either way, come on out!

Bring shoes for damp ground, a lawn chair, and an expectation to encounter Christ.

We’ll see y’all at the round pen.

04/19/2026

04/15/2026

"I had ZERO intention of attending church this morning."

That's how Diana Smith started her Facebook post. And I know we've all had those Sundays before. But one thing we've learned with Fit to be Tied is that our plans are rarely taken into consideration when God wants to lead us to something new.

"So...what happened was, I went outside to enjoy my coffee, I could hear church music very clearly. Walked to the corner and listened a bit, then closer, then closer and closer."

Diana wasn't looking for a sermon on Sunday, but the sermon found her anyway and she drew in. We've all been grinning ear to ear reading this because that's the kind of curiosity that leads people to God. And that's all we've ever wanted to do.

Our prayer is that same curiosity comes to everyone who hears what God is doing through us at Fit to be Tied.

"Yup, I was the crazy lady in her moo moo and flip flops standing in the road listening to a very powerful message with a few tears running down yesterday's make up."

Video and quote courtesy of Diana Smith and used with her permission.