Back to a Childlike Faith: Exploring faraway places and discovering home

This is the story of a boy who grew into a man without ever losing his childlike wonder. From star-filled nights in Big Bend country to the shimmering constellations he greeted like old friends, his curiosity about the universe shaped the way he saw the world-and the God who created it.

His journey led him across the globe to the New Seven Wonders of the World and the ancient Great Pyramids of Egypt. Whether climbing the tight passage to Khufu's burial chamber, standing alone before the Taj Mahal at dawn, balancing on the Great Wall of China, or watching children play beneath the Roman Colosseum, he embraced each moment with awe.

This book also tells the story of an artist, teacher, and natural entertainer-one whose joy drew children near and whose gifts helped shape future generations. Through art, laughter, and faith, he touched lives deeply, inspiring young people who would one day share the Gospel in many languages.

Stan Jacobs was born in Monte Vista, Colorado, six months before his father landed at Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion. Raised in Kansas, he began creating art as a child and later enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on the day of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He earned a BFA from Washburn University in 1965, was commissioned an officer, and served as a communications and security officer on multiple aircraft carriers before transferring to the Naval Undersea Research and Development Center. After leaving the Navy in 1969, heearned an MFA in sculpture from the University of Kansas.In 1971, Stan moved with his family to Midland, Texas, where he became the first full-time art instructor at Midland College, later earning a PhD in arts administration and rising to Associate Vice President of Instruction. After retiring in 2012, he continued teaching and creating art, including stone and wood carving, bronze casting, and caricatures. He has visited more than sixty countries, drawing caricatures around the world, and has served as a missionary for over twenty-five years, teaching English and sharing the Christian Gospel across multiple continents.