Sarah Ellington Stone, Daughter of Pastor Mike Stone, Goes Home to Be With the Lord at 19

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news. As reported by Protestia, Pastor Mike Stone of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, announced on social media today that his 19-year-old daughter, Sarah Ellington Stone, has passed away. Her passing came about three months after she entered hospice care at the family's home. Pastor Stone has served as chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, according to The Christian Post.

According to the family's memorial announcement, Sarah was born on September 3, 2007, and went to be with the Lord on November 3, 2026. For years she faced serious health struggles. Her mother, Andrea, who cared for her, has shared that Sarah battled physical ailments related to neuromuscular weakness and POTS. When the family announced in August that she had entered hospice care, Baptist Press reported that they were facing the days ahead with faith in Christ and confidence in the resurrection.

What stands out most to me is her testimony. The family's announcement says she was converted at age 6, and it puts it this way: "Christ was her hope in this life. He is now her hope in death." Through her suffering she kept pointing people to the Lord, and in their grief her family is doing the same, quoting the words of Job: "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).

Whatever differences Bible believing Christians may have with one another, grief like this cuts through all of it. No parent should have to bury a child. I ask every reader of Doctrine Matters to pray for Mike, Andrea, and their whole family, and for the church family at Emmanuel Baptist, in the days ahead.

Comfort from God's Word

For the believer, death is not the end. Paul wrote that we "sorrow not, even as others which have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13), because to be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15). Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). And one day "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" (Revelation 21:4). Sarah's pain is over.

Are You Ready?

Sarah's life was short. James asks, "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). None of us is promised tomorrow. Sarah trusted Christ as a little girl. If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), please don't put it off. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Memorial Service

According to the family's memorial announcement, a special worship service celebrating Sarah's life and legacy will be held Sunday afternoon, November 8, at Emmanuel Baptist Church of Blackshear. A video commemorating her life and music ministry will begin at 2:30 PM, with the main service beginning at 3 PM.

Sources: Protestia, Baptist Press, The Christian Post, and the Stone family's memorial announcement.

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