Pastor Mike Stone, a Southern Baptist leader in Georgia, is mourning the death of his 19-year-old daughter, Sarah Ellington Stone, after a years-long battle with multiple chronic illnesses.

Stone, the senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, announced Tuesday, November 3, that Sarah, his second youngest of four children, had died after 12 weeks in hospice care at the family’s home.

“With heavy hearts upheld by our Christian faith, we want to share that our precious Sarah has gone to be with the Lord,” Stone wrote in a statement shared on social media. He said, “Though we grieve, our hope in Jesus gives us absolute confidence in her eternal state.”

Stone added that “Christ was her hope in this life. He is now her hope in death.”

Sarah had battled several serious medical conditions, including neuromuscular weakness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, gastroparesis and intestinal failure.

In August, Stone said his daughter had entered hospice care after years of declining health. He said the family was relying on their Christian faith as they faced an uncertain future.

He said the family faced the days ahead with Christ, confidence in the resurrection, and the blessed assurance that their Sovereign God does all things well.

Sarah remained in hospice care longer than her family and medical team initially expected. Despite her health struggles, she continued to express gratitude and share how her faith helped her endure difficult days.

In her final public Facebook post, Sarah thanked those who had prayed for her family and praised her parents and medical caregivers for their sacrifices.

“I am the most blessed girl in the world to have such a strong support system,” she wrote, adding that her parents and care teams sacrificed much to keep her alive and comfortable.

In an August 2025 post marking Gastroparesis Awareness Month, Sarah reflected on five years of illness and the comfort she found in Jesus.

She wrote that many nights she felt alone, but the Savior stayed by her side, and that many days she felt forsaken, but He promised never to leave her or forsake her.

She encouraged others facing difficult circumstances to trust God’s plan, writing that He comes through for her time after time.

On Sarah’s 19th birthday, two months before her death, the family announced the creation of the SonShine Foundation, which Sarah wanted to support international missions and families caring for children with chronic illnesses.

News of her passing prompted an outpouring of prayers and condolences from Christian leaders, including Bible teacher Beth Moore.

Moore wrote that the same arms that welcomed Sarah in heaven would comfort all who grieve, and said she was sorry for the pain and suffering the family endured.

Stone, a former chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee and a 2021 SBC presidential candidate, concluded his announcement with Job 1:21: “The Lord gave. The Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

A celebration of Sarah’s life is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear. A memorial video will begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by a worship service at 3 p.m.