Meet the Founders

Their love story is more than romantic—it’s restorative. It’s the reason this ministry exists.

Joe’s resilience and Debbie’s vision became a living testimony: that when you build what you love, you live what God designed.

How They Met: A Love Story Rooted in Redemption

Joe and Debbie met online in 2016—two old souls, each divorced twice, each yearning to share the rest of their lives with someone who truly understood the weight of survival and the joy of second chances. Joe’s first message was simple but unforgettable: *“Pick me, pick me, pick me.”* And she did.

They were older, wiser, and ready. Their love didn’t come fast—it came faithfully. Proof that it’s never too late for God to send you what you deserve in the form of a perfect match. What started as a spark quickly grew into a partnership grounded in faith, creativity, and healing.

Joe, quiet and observant, watched the world to learn how to move through it. Debbie, full of discernment and drive, noticed he was watching her—and chose to model hope, momentum, and holy restoration. Together, they turned date nights at the Cincinnati Public Library Makerspace into sacred ground. Surrounded by green screens, button makers, and 3D printers, they saw what creativity could do for underprivileged kids—and for each other.

DEBBIE SCOTT
Founder, Speaker, Writer, Redeemed Survivor Advocate

In 2017, I stood on that stage shaking in my boots but holding tight to my faith, ready to tell my story to hundreds of folks who needed to hear it. That moment—now up on True Theatre Website (Thanks Dave Levy!) —was the day I stopped running and started trusting God's plan.

My fiancé Joe was sitting right there in the audience, steady as a rock. His love reminded me what I learned in the Marines: You never go into battle alone. And when someone stands with you in your mess? Well, that's holy ground, friend.

I didn't get up there to point fingers or shame a soul. I got up there to show folks there's a way through the hard stuff—that by God's grace, even families marked by silence and hurt can find restoration.

That's what Stump & Soul is all about: Taking broken stumps and watching God grow them into thriving souls. From silence to testimony. From fear to freedom. From barely surviving to truly living.

I'm a Marine veteran, a follower of Jesus, and a redeemed survivor who's seen God do the impossible. My journey's been messy—that video's downright awkward if I'm being honest—but it's real-life proof that God keeps His promises.

If my story helps just one precious soul find their way home to hope, then every uncomfortable, faith-stretching moment was worth it.

That's the Gospel in action, y'all. That's redemption with boots on the ground. That's living proof.

Semper Fi. To God be the glory.

Joe Stump — Co-Founder, Heart Patient Hero, Visionary

Joe is the quiet heartbeat behind *Stump & Soul Ministries*. A survivor in every sense, Joe has faced life-threatening health battles since his twenties—heart failure, liver complications, and the long shadow of COVID. But through it all, his will to live has been nothing short of miraculous. His faith is alive and kicking, and his purpose is stitched into every corner of this ministry.

Joe learns by watching. It’s how he’s always moved through the world—with quiet observation, deep discernment, and a gentle spirit. In 2016, he met Debbie online with a message that changed everything: *“Pick me, pick me, pick me.”* She did—and together, they built a ministry rooted in second chances, creative healing, and holy restoration.

Joe didn’t just bring love—he brought Hannah, a 160-pound Mastiff and living answer to Debbie’s 18-year prayer for a dog. Hannah was his other great love, a one-of-a-kind companion whose presence shaped the ministry’s sense of hospitality and comfort. Her passing broke Joe’s heart, deepening his pain but also expanding the ministry’s legacy.

Today, Joe is the co-founder, encourager, and quiet visionary behind *Stump & Soul*. He’s the reason we believe healing is possible. His resilience is our blueprint. His story is living proof that it’s never too late for God to send you what you deserve—in the form of love, purpose, and a perfect match.

✈️ Photo Art & Travel Contest: #2 Audio

Picture Title: Flight Path of Friendship  

Dedication: Chosen Family Friends  

Dedication Text:  

To the ones who show up with cameras, convertibles, and quiet courage—thank you for capturing the sacred in the everyday. Joe, your eye for beauty and Hannah, your stillness in motion, remind me that friendship is a landing strip for grace. You both help me fly when I forget I have wings.  

Pic taken in 2025. A plane, a pause, a picture worth a thousand prayers.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11**

At Stump and Soul Ministries, we believe healing is not a detour—it’s the divine path. This space was born from brokenness, rebuilt with grace, and rooted in the promise that God’s plans are always redemptive. Whether you arrive weary, curious, or full of fire, know this: you are part of a story that’s still unfolding. A story of hope, of purpose, and of a future handcrafted by the One who never wastes a wound.

Welcome home. The plans are already in motion.