Sarah Stone, daughter of Pastor Mike Stone, dies at 19

Sarah Ellington Stone, the 19-year-old daughter of Southern Baptist Pastor Mike Stone, passed away on Tuesday following a prolonged struggle with chronic illness. Pastor Stone, who leads Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, and previously chaired the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, announced her death on social media. He expressed that while the family grieves, they find comfort in their Christian faith and the assurance of her salvation.

Sarah had been living with several complex health conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and intestinal failure. She had been receiving hospice care at the family home for 12 weeks prior to her passing. In honor of her life, the family recently established the SonShine Foundation, an organization Sarah intended to support international missions and families navigating the challenges of chronic illness. Following the announcement, numerous Christian leaders and members of the public offered condolences and prayers for the Stone family.