update: To view the memorial service of Amy Hart Stockstill, click here
It would be such a blessing if all of you who have been standing with us could join in for the celebration of Amy’s homegoing. For those of you here in the area and that can travel here we will be having a viewing from 10 to 12 on Thur. morning with a memorial service to follow at noon. For those not able to be here we will be streaming the service live on bethany.com and 220power.com. Please join in with us in honoring the most incredible woman I have ever known. Amy, darling, I love you!!!
We are asking instead of flowers that people stirred to participate would give a donation to the Global 12 Project and give to the planting of churches worldwide. This was our heart and will give great honor to God and to dearest Amy. (details will be posted on the web as well)
For those of you wondering how I am doing I would like to say that the peace of God has been overwhelming. While the shock and suddenness is hard to even comprehend right now God has poured out His unmerited grace and mercy on me. Yes, many tears have been shed in the grieving process but, in the end, Jesus is still on the throne and I honor him as his bondslave. I hold nothing back!
Rom. 1:1- This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ’s slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent to preach His Good News.
pastor Joel it pained my heart again to find through Pastor Steve Hill the news about your precious wife .I stand with you in spirit and valor as you and I have become the same in our lost . I too watched my wife go to glory .For me it will be 7 weeks tomorrow . I had 13 precious years with her and 2 beautiful children. The first comfort Jesus gave me was that my wife will be there to recieve me in my time and that she is so excited to show me everything already that she is experiencing. She loved to make flower arrangements and the first thing she saw was the flowers glorifying God.As she picked them she was creating music arrangements of worship. Im asking God to show me these heavenly songs .You have a friend in Texas praying for you. May Gods love overwhelm you brother. Rocky Terrazas
Pastor Joel and Family,
There are only two words I know that can encompass your loss and they show the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus when the Bible says, “Jesus wept”. I pray God’s grace will sustain you in the days and months ahead. We know that Amy was a blessing to all who knew her. My family’s prayers are with you.
I was so disappointed that I did not have the opportunity to watch the service online yesterday… I am glad to read all the comments saying it was wonderful though.
I am continuing to pray for you and your family Pastor Joel. You are an amazing man of God, and your faith keeps stirring me everytime I hear from you. I am praising God for the revival that is coming from your ministry, and cant wait to see what fruit is produced.
I cant wait to see Amy in Heaven, I am definitely jealous she beat me there! Her work here was cut short…
With Love..
Pastor Joel, family and Bethany Ministry:
In 2005 we came to your Radical By Nature with our teenagers. We were completely blown away by the ministry at Bethany. We specifically remember sitting in your and Sister Amy’s workshop on relationships. It had such an impact on us as a married couple, youth leaders and parents. We have the deepest respect for the ministry God has placed in your hands. We are praying and interceding for you, your family, and ministry. God has been and will be even more glorified through the awesome ministry He has blessed you with. You are such a blessing! To Him be all honor!!!
With deepest respect,
Juan and Liz Canales
Indianapolis Indiaa
There is a very large group of us here in Pensacola, FL praying for you Pastor Joel and your family. I have been recently listening to the YPI conference CDs from 2007, and just want to celebrate and thank you for the impact and impartation you and Amy have made and continue to make in mine, my church’s, my generations, and ones to come’s lives. You are mighty and called by His name. We join as brothers and sisters behind you to lift you up, though we are seperated by distance, our hearts are with you, as we know Amy is rejoicing in that place with our reiging saviour and King! he is worthy! be encouraged, and we believe in You! Many blessings, hope, strength, and life in Jesus’ name!
I am so sorry for your loss. It is difficult to comprehend, but we know she has completed her faith walk in full. The things we have sung about, she has seen with her eyes. Let the name of the Lord be praised!
May God continue to uphold you, Joel.
–b
Brother Joel, We are praying for you, and Love your family so much. She went better place, no pain , no suffering, no worry for this world life. but she is better place with Jesue Christ and rejoice 24hour. Love you so much
From
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Dean and Saba
Last Wednesday my 13 yr. old son asked if I could drop him off at Pathfinders for HPC. When we got there we were told everyone was at Bethany so I drove over there and walked him inside to make sure he knew where to go. Once we arrived I realized this wasn’t an ordinary service and my son and I sat in the back to see “what was going on”. I have never met Amy or heard of her or did I know anyone from Bethany. But thought to myself how blessed and lucky she was to have been so loved by so many people. And I realized that love…true love… really does exist and I decided that night that I want that too! So thank you Amy
Pastor Joel…
Im from baltimore and I had the chance of visiting your church 2 times…..I only know you and Amy thru your website.
I just want to praise the Lord for the way He has shaped your heart and spirit and Amy’s…..as you both went thru this trial. You and Amy are truly God’s beloved. Thank you for blessing the Lord always…..and in ALL circumstance…
“For You have turned my mourning into dancing….You have turned my sorrow to joy”.
Pastor Joel, you are such an inspiration to all, especially to a baby christian like me. May the Lord continue the good work that He has started in you…
Pastor, I prayed for you today. I miss her, but her spirit is with all of us, the young women and the older women.
vera
Dear Pastor Joel,
You and your family are continually in my thoughts and prayers.
May God’s peace continue to comfort you.
God bless,
Sylvia Lea
Singapore
Hi Joel,
I use to attend Bethany prior to my move to Houston, Texas 2 years ago. While searching the web to see what was going on I ran across the news of your wife. I sat at my desk at work and watched the entire memorial service. It was very difficult and I found myself in tears through most of it. I do have to say in a way it was what I needed today! The first comments your father made about you saying you searched Baton Rouge and your wife was not there….well that is how I feel right now. I’ve searched and searched and I’m starting to thing a husband for me just isn’t in the cards. After watching the memorial and hearing your love story in such detail I have to say I am so inspired. Not only about love, but about the fact that a lot of the things I am battling with can be easily lifted when I return to church and start to live the way I know I should. I grew up going to church on Sunday, bible study on Wednesday, and revivals almost every Thursday and Friday. My mom has been an ordained minster for most of my life. However I insisted on trying to find a way around giving God the attention he deserves in my life.
I’m sure you don’t remember but my sister and I were having lunch at a Picadilly on South Sherwood. You, your wife, brother, his wife and a few others all came in. I gave to waitress a note to give to you asking you to please have the choir play “Show your Glory” the next Sunday. I think I was so embarrassed that I actually did that, I didn’t even go to church that Sunday :-) But that has pretty much been the story of my life. I feel that tugging on my heart (more then ever when I hear that song) but I always find away to ignore it or put it off for just a little longer. The service also helped me realize tomorrow isn’t promised to us. Stop putting off getting your life in order, do it TODAY.
I lost my 18 mth old son to a disease we didn’t even know he had 8 years ago and I used that as my excuse to shut god out. Besides, why would he let that happen? I didn’t realize how much I still felt that until I watched this service and it was almost like that feeling FINALLY went away. Its a new day, I even started a blog to remind my self of the promised I’m making today and to track the changed and great things to come. God bless you and your family.