Last night was truly a tremendous night as leaders and friends from all over America came together for a surprise birthday party and time of honor for my 91 year old grandfather Roy Stockstill. He is the founder of Bethany World Prayer Center, faithful minister of the Gospel for over 60 years, and loving husband for 63 years. WOW! What a legacy he has created for our family!
In a day where scandal and reproach on our Lord Jesus name are not only common, but sadly expected, it is a great privilege and joy to watch the life of an average man born in Picayune, MS (as the 7th of 10 children) become a legend of faith. He lived a life of honesty, humility, and holiness before God and birthed many thousands and tens of thousands into the Gospel of Jesus Christ both locally and worldwide. HIs life and legacy will be remembered by so many incredible memories and sayings when he is gone and in all of this there is not one mark against him as a man of God, husband, or pastor. This doesn’t mean he was perfect, or that to be a great man of faith you have to be perfect, but it does mean that you can make it all the way from salvation to eternity without blowing it or compromising the name of Jesus. This does mean that you can love one woman your whole life and never dabble in the desires of the flesh or fall prey to the lure of greed and pride.
As I write this blog to primarily young people, I want to say to you and any believer reading that a life like Brother Roy’s is proof that we can be like Christ and live our whole life in integrity. It proves that we do not have to be like the world but can be changed into a new creation that is circumcised at heart from the sin nature that constantly seeks our destruction. It proves that a man can be filled with God’s Spirit for every day of His existence in Christ and sing, shout, dance, preach, weep, laugh, and love with all the grace that Christ has given us. It proves that if you will stay in love with Jesus for your whole walk with Him that countless lives WILL be affected and Jesus will receive great glory from your life. Finally, it proves that you can receive great honor in your memory and be received into your heavenly reward with many crowns to cast at Jesus’ feet.
I pray today that you will be stirred in your heart to press on till you reach the mark of the high calling set before you. It is a high calling! Don’t worry about fame or money, but instead, be filled with God’s Spirit every day afresh and watch how He will raise you up and honor you before the watching world.
Psa. 31:19 How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it upon those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
Brother Joel-
I met your grandfather when i was staying with Carl Everett. I actually had an opportunity to ride with him in car from the south back up to his house. I sat in awe, perceiving the vision in his eyes and to see the spirit of joy that he displayed. He is a great man and has left you with a wonderful heritage.
I only heard Brother Roy speak once briefly last summer at the south, but the church he founded led by his family is compelling evidence of a faithful & holy walk with the Lord. I enjoyed seeing the video in service yesterday & am certain that many who visit the Bethany website or your blog would be greatly moved by it. This is such a great message for young people who are moving thru a time when new freedoms & pressures may bring additional challenges to maintaining a strong spiritual life. Every day we have the opportunity to make the right choice by the Lord. We can recover from mistakes, but the wrong choices are never worth the consequence or the time we lose from growing in the Lord & acting as His servants. When you take calculus or chemistry in college, you suddenly wonder what foolishness had your attention in your high school prep courses that now holds you back making you work harder for average grades or fewer credits. Praise God for Christians who led lives of integrity who stand out against the slew of poor role models available to young people today. Let their stories one day be commonplace on the big screen influencing countless others to bring Jesus great glory in their daily walk, in song, dance, tears, laughter, & love with all the grace Christ has given us.
what that shows me is that he started off somewhere with God so have I and He stayed with it and God gave Him the nations as His inheritance just as he promises us all he never forsaked God niether did God Him. its amazing he took all limits off he had faith and he was faithful to the Lord and even now he’s started something that will affect 1000 generations I’d say like Abraham he had nothing but then God made a promise the stars so shall your descendants be. for us all God has made a promise and He’ll keep if we stick around long enough just like this man of faith did.
I am truly blessed to be at Bethany! I Never thought nor was taught that i could live like you mentioned above until I came here. I realized on Sunday because of one mans decision, others can learn to do the same. Thank you Bro. Roy! I have been truly blessed! ” Go after the call of your life…Run after it with all your might and one day someone will be running right along with you.” ~Roy Stockstill
What a legacy! And what spiritual heritage! To those of us with great spiritual heritage we owe it to those saints to continue the race they ran faithfully til the end, and to those of us with a rich heritage, we have the oppurtunity to create a legacy for a future generation! Regardless – run the race that is set before you and run as one who intends to win!!!
Blessings
Hey Bro Joel,
I met your dad for the briefest of moments when I visited with Ps Jack Hanes some years ago. If I had known more then, I would have tried to find any opportunity to talk with him. What a legend!!
What an awesome testimony of faith, and I love that verse you used!!! That’s blessing we can look forward to here and now, not just in heaven!!
you grandfather is such a an example of how God can live in one person. I could actually see the light in him. Praise God for him and all of your family. We love you all.
I began attending Bethany with my mom at the age of 5 (1975) when Bro. Roy was the Pastor and Bro. Larry was a lanky teenager! I remember hearing Bro. Roy preaching and remember how sweet Sis. Ruth always was. How I loved this couple, and then, when Bro. Larry and Sis. Melanie took over, I fell in love all over again with the new generation when I attended with my Uncle Richmond and his family. What a legacy! The Stockstill Family and Bethany have been a part of my life for 35 years now. I was heartbroken when I had to move to Texas because I was leaving Bethany. Imagine my joy when the church we began attending later came under the mentorship of Bro. Larry! Small world! A VERY Happy Birthday to my first spiritual father, Bro. Roy.
Even though I have not personally met Brother Roy, his life has been an inspiration to me as a pastor. He has shown integrity to the highest degree so that it’s now wonder that your dad, Pastor Larry, is leading The Remnant Conferences each year and has written the book of the same title. My favorite “story” of Brother Roy has been when he was on a ladder painting a building and a prospective staff member came along, looking for him. Brother Roy offered him a paint brush! That is leading by example!
Happy Birthday to a man of true wisdom and compassion for souls. I thank God for leading me to the leadership of such a fine vessel for his children.
I’ll never forget the day I got out of my car and heard the singing from what is now the old gym. I was greeted by a man with a big smile and escorted to the altar where they had put out chairs ….. the place was packed! What a way to go into your first Holy Ghost service. I was sitting almost under the pulpit!! What I heard that day stirred my heart and made me realize that it was possible to actually know the Lord as a personal friend as well as savior. There is none so precious as the one who teaches you how to walk with the Lord. Bro. Roy and Sis. Ruth are priceless saints to so many. It would take pages to tell of their love for the lost and the body of Christ as well. It was a joy to attend Bro. Roy’s Birthday week end and to see how God is still using him.
I have so many wonderful memories of Sis. Ruth … she was my mentor and my friend. I will always miss her.