by Kathy Stone

Throughout life we accumulate memories of the work of God in individuals who have made an impact on us. This is the story of one such lady. A smile comes to our faces as Steve and I recall our history with Lillie.

I would not be able to tell Lillie's story without first sharing how we came to know her. In 1991 her daughter Juanita came to know the Lord, was baptized, and joined Calvary Baptist Church in Nova Scotia, Canada. She had grown up in a Catholic background and recounted to us times when her mother and her siblings walked several miles to attend their church. Juanita loved her family and wanted them to know Christ, but some were upset with her choices. She continued to pray for them. Whenever Juanita shared her story about her mother with us, she always related how devoted her mother was to the church and how much she wanted her children to be faithful in their church attendance.

When I first started to hear of Lillie, the stories always made Lillie sound like such a strong, sweet and dedicated mother. I wanted to meet her and witness to her. Because Lillie had never met me, I asked Juanita to line up a time when I could visit. Lillie was living with her son just down the road from our church. The stories I had heard were true—Lillie was such a sweet lady and so hospitable and kind. On the first visit, I had freedom to witness to both Lillie and her son, but I could sense that Lillie did not truly understand salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She responded that there had been a time when she prayed and asked the Lord to "save her," but it was in essence being "saved" from a hard situation during a time of illness. For a few weeks after, I would make an occasional visit. Each time I enjoyed getting to know Lillie better and talking with her more.

One Sunday evening, one of Juanita's sisters came to our church during the service to let us know that Juanita's brother had just passed suddenly from a heart attack. As a result of her son's passing, Lillie came to live with Juanita and her husband Frank. She began to attend Calvary Baptist Church with them.

For a year, Lillie sat under the sound of the Gospel. In March 2007, her heart began to understand more of the true message. At the close of one service, Steve ended by saying if anyone had any questions about their salvation to please come to him. Lillie immediately came and said, "I want to KNOW that I am going to heaven." What a joy it was to share from God's Word His plan of salvation and to have Lillie (at the age of 91) pray and accept Christ. She came out to the others and told them she had been saved.

Because of the history of infant baptism observed by Lillie's former church, we immediately began to talk with her about the need to be baptized as a believer. She did not hesitate to tell us that she wanted to take this step. She had already been a witness to her children and family. That caused some resentment because they felt she had "turned her back" on her former church. She was told the Baptist church had "brainwashed" her. She stood her ground and remained strong in her witness. Lillie began reading her Bible for the first time. Juanita told us that her mother would read in the morning and again later in the day until her eyes would be too tired.

Lillie's baptism was scheduled. However, she began to experience strokes, and one stroke left her unable to walk for some time. Her baptism was postponed until a later date. Calvary Baptist Church has always baptized in an area lake. We had several scheduled to be baptized on July 22, 2007. Lillie had regained her strength but was still very frail. She told us if all those young people could be baptized in the lake, so could she. We were concerned about her health but prayed that God would protect her as she went into the cold water. We rejoiced as we saw Lillie being helped into the water and being immersed and then walking out of the water with no ill effects.

Lillie was a blessing to our church for the next few years. Everyone enjoyed seeing her come to the services. But over those years, her body and heart began to weaken. It saddened her (and her church family) that her visits to the services began to decrease and eventually stop. On June 11, 2010, Lillie went home to be with her Lord. For the first time, Calvary Baptist Church had the visitation and funeral at the church (not at the funeral home as was the standard). In the funeral service, Steve had Lillie's Bible. He spoke of how Lillie received the Lord as her Savior and loved the Word of God. She had read through the Bible five times and was on her sixth reading when she went home.

The Catholic church had told some in years past that if they or their family left the church to be a part of the Baptist church they could not be buried in the cemetery with their families. This concerned Lillie as her husband was buried there, and she wanted to be buried with him. Lillie got her wish and was placed by her husband. The priest had a part at the graveside, but Steve had the final word and was able to tell those there that we did not have to pray for Lillie anymore (as the priest had said), but that Lillie was already home with the Lord and no longer needed our prayers.

What an impact Lillie made on our lives and the lives of so many of her family and friends. What a blessing for Juanita to see God answer her prayers—to know her mother knew the Lord. When we see God's grace at work, it makes our hearts rejoice.

June 2011 marked the first year since Lillie went home. We miss her, but we look forward to our reunion one day in heaven. As Lillie "wrote her story" during our time with her, what a wonderful story of God's grace we gained to share today!

Steve Stone now serves as Far North director. He and his wife, Kathy, work with missionaries throughout Canada and Alaska.

Friday, May 24, 2013

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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