Good job faithful servant!
Ted Stone dies during fourth walk across country
From staff and wire reports
Ted Stone, an anti-drug activist from Durham, died Sunday during his fourth "Walk across America" to spread awareness of the hope that substance abusers can find in Christ. He was 72.
Stone and his ministry partner, collegian Sean Reece, were driving to speak at a church just north of Nashville when Stone became unconscious. He was taken by ambulance to Skyline Medical Center, where he died around 3:30 p.m.
The Davidson County medical examiner determined he died from cardiovascular disease, Associated Press reported.
Stone became an evangelist after serving four years in prison in the 1970s as the result of drug addictions. He spent 29 years in ministry and was the founder of Ted Stone Ministries.
Stone walked across the country three times telling substance abusers of the hope they can find in Christ. His previous three walks across America included a 3,650-mile trek in 1996 from the Capitol steps in Washington southward to Jacksonville, Fla., and westward to Los Angeles; a 3,550-mile trek in 1998 from the mayor's office in San Francisco eastward to Virginia Beach, Va.; and a 1,700-mile, south to north trek in 2000 that began in Nueva Laredo, Mexico, and ended in Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge leading into Canada.
Though a battle with colon cancer in 2002 took a toll on his body, he so fervently believed in the cause that he pressed on to start a fourth walk across the nation, starting in Chicago June 19 with an expected end in Pensacola, Fla.
In 2005, Stone launched HIS Way, a treatment and recovery program designed for implementation in the local church to prevent recovering drug abusers from relapsing into old lifestyles after they express an interest in following Jesus.
Stone was a longtime member of the board of visitors at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and was a trustee at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Fuller Stone, three daughters, Ellen Sichina of Shelby; Carole Doll and Lisa Hilliard, both of Apex; and five grandchildren.
Why this story?
In June I was attending the Southern baptist Convention in Greensboro NC. Pastor Keith Whitener of Idlewilde Baptist was with me. As we were leaving the Colesium I saw Ted. He was a Brother in the Lord and a good friend. I hollered out his name and he turned and saw me. "Why haven't you had me at your Church, Raymond Johns?" He hugged me and introduced his young protege traveling with him. I intoduced him to Keith and we talked for a while. He had such a passion to share the hope of Jesus Christ and the freedom He gives.
He also looked like he needed to be in a hospital. I asked him how his health was and he was very optimistic though his appearance said otherwise. He didn't want to talk about that, he wanted to talk about his up and coming walk across America for Christ. He gave me some info and said he would like to come to the church and speak. I told him I would live to have him. I told him about Celebrate Recovery and he said he loved that ministry and would love to talk to those who came. We agreed to keep in touch when he got close to NC. We shook hands and left. One month later he is with the Lord. What a way to go! Faithfully fulfilling the mission and commission of of our Lord and Savior. He would not stop. Sickness couldn't stop him no more than the devil tried to as a young man. Age couldn't stop him and it still hasn't stopped his mother.
Ted knew Jesus and he picked up his cross, died to his own ambitions and followed his Master wherever He led and in the end He led him right on down the road to glory! I know Jesus must have said " We are home son, lay that cross down. You have been faithful. Come and rest a while." May it be so with us.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Father thank you for the life and inspiration of Ted. Thank you that in a world of distractions he stayed focused on You and your mission. Help those of us reading this to be like minded and committed to following you. Help us to see the good in those we encounter and help us to share with everyone we meet the joy and freedom of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for Your love and grace. Amen
From staff and wire reports
Ted Stone, an anti-drug activist from Durham, died Sunday during his fourth "Walk across America" to spread awareness of the hope that substance abusers can find in Christ. He was 72.
Stone and his ministry partner, collegian Sean Reece, were driving to speak at a church just north of Nashville when Stone became unconscious. He was taken by ambulance to Skyline Medical Center, where he died around 3:30 p.m.
The Davidson County medical examiner determined he died from cardiovascular disease, Associated Press reported.
Stone became an evangelist after serving four years in prison in the 1970s as the result of drug addictions. He spent 29 years in ministry and was the founder of Ted Stone Ministries.
Stone walked across the country three times telling substance abusers of the hope they can find in Christ. His previous three walks across America included a 3,650-mile trek in 1996 from the Capitol steps in Washington southward to Jacksonville, Fla., and westward to Los Angeles; a 3,550-mile trek in 1998 from the mayor's office in San Francisco eastward to Virginia Beach, Va.; and a 1,700-mile, south to north trek in 2000 that began in Nueva Laredo, Mexico, and ended in Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge leading into Canada.
Though a battle with colon cancer in 2002 took a toll on his body, he so fervently believed in the cause that he pressed on to start a fourth walk across the nation, starting in Chicago June 19 with an expected end in Pensacola, Fla.
In 2005, Stone launched HIS Way, a treatment and recovery program designed for implementation in the local church to prevent recovering drug abusers from relapsing into old lifestyles after they express an interest in following Jesus.
Stone was a longtime member of the board of visitors at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and was a trustee at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Fuller Stone, three daughters, Ellen Sichina of Shelby; Carole Doll and Lisa Hilliard, both of Apex; and five grandchildren.
Why this story?
In June I was attending the Southern baptist Convention in Greensboro NC. Pastor Keith Whitener of Idlewilde Baptist was with me. As we were leaving the Colesium I saw Ted. He was a Brother in the Lord and a good friend. I hollered out his name and he turned and saw me. "Why haven't you had me at your Church, Raymond Johns?" He hugged me and introduced his young protege traveling with him. I intoduced him to Keith and we talked for a while. He had such a passion to share the hope of Jesus Christ and the freedom He gives.
He also looked like he needed to be in a hospital. I asked him how his health was and he was very optimistic though his appearance said otherwise. He didn't want to talk about that, he wanted to talk about his up and coming walk across America for Christ. He gave me some info and said he would like to come to the church and speak. I told him I would live to have him. I told him about Celebrate Recovery and he said he loved that ministry and would love to talk to those who came. We agreed to keep in touch when he got close to NC. We shook hands and left. One month later he is with the Lord. What a way to go! Faithfully fulfilling the mission and commission of of our Lord and Savior. He would not stop. Sickness couldn't stop him no more than the devil tried to as a young man. Age couldn't stop him and it still hasn't stopped his mother.
Ted knew Jesus and he picked up his cross, died to his own ambitions and followed his Master wherever He led and in the end He led him right on down the road to glory! I know Jesus must have said " We are home son, lay that cross down. You have been faithful. Come and rest a while." May it be so with us.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Father thank you for the life and inspiration of Ted. Thank you that in a world of distractions he stayed focused on You and your mission. Help those of us reading this to be like minded and committed to following you. Help us to see the good in those we encounter and help us to share with everyone we meet the joy and freedom of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for Your love and grace. Amen
posted by pastor raymond | 12:36 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home