Pastor Mike Stone announces daughter Sarah has died after long battle with chronic illness

After several years of chronic illness, Sarah Ellington Stone, the younger daughter of prominent Southern Baptist Pastor Mike Stone, has died. She was 19.

Stone, who leads Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, announced on his social media platforms that the second youngest of his four children died Tuesday.

“With heavy hearts upheld by our Christian faith, we want to share that our precious Sarah has gone to be with the Lord. Though we grieve, our hope in Jesus gives us absolute confidence in her eternal state,” a statement from the pastor said. “Sarah’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ means she has now passed from the land of the dying into the land of the living. Converted at age 6, Christ was her hope in this life. He is now her hope in death.”

Stone, who previously served as chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee and was an SBC presidential candidate in 2021, announced in August that Sarah had begun hospice care at the family’s home after years of living with neuromuscular weakness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, gastroparesis and intestinal failure.

“After a courageous battle with numerous physical illnesses, our precious Sarah has entered Hospice care,” Stone said. “Our entire family faces the days ahead with Christ, confidence in the resurrection, and the blessed assurance that our Sovereign God does all things well.” 

Sarah spent 12 weeks in hospice at home, far longer than her family or medical team expected. Two months before her death, on her 19th birthday, the family announced the creation of the SonShine Foundation, which Stone said Sarah wanted to support international missions and families of children with chronic illnesses.

The Georgia pastor’s announcement Tuesday drew an outpouring of condolences.

“My prayers are with you and your family, brother. They truly are. Her life was short, but it was well-lived to the glory of Christ. Well done, Sarah,” responded Justin Peters, who operates Justin Peters Ministries in Oklahoma.

“May the same arms thrown open to welcome your beloved Sarah in heaven extend earthward to comfort all of you who grieve. I’m so sorry for all the pain and suffering your family has endured. May Jesus be obvious in his nearness,” wrote Bible teacher Beth Moore.

In her last public post on Facebook, Sarah thanked the public for praying for her family. She also expressed gratitude for her support system as she faced her health challenges.

“Thank you for praying for our family! I am the most blessed girl in the world to have such a strong support system. Especially my parents & care teams, who sacrifice SO much to keep me alive & as comfortable as possible,” she wrote.

In an Aug. 15, 2025, post marking Gastroparesis Awareness Month, Sarah wrote about her five years of illness and how she found comfort in her faith.

“There have been many nights I’ve felt so alone. But by my side, the Savior stayed. There have been many days I’ve felt forsaken. But He promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. There have been many days I’ve thought I was too broken to carry on. But in my weakness, His power was displayed,” she wrote, explaining how she was inspired by the lyrics of prominent Christian worship music ministry, CityAlight. “He comes through for me time, after time, after time. No matter your circumstance, I promise He will do the same for you. Rest in the comfort of His sovereign plan.”

In announcing her death, Stone shared Job 1:21: “The Lord gave. The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Sarah’s life and legacy will be celebrated in a special worship service on Nov.  8, at Emmanuel Baptist Church of Blackshear, beginning with a memorial video at 2:30 p.m. The main service will begin at 3 p.m.