About Us
How We Started
In 1999, Amazing Facts invited me to conduct a series of meetings
in India to establish a church in a village which had no Seventh-day
Adventist presence. Accepting the invitation resulted in an unforgettable,
Spirit-filled experience! Watching the hall fill with those precious
souls, mostly Hindus, that first night, I was suddenly overwhelmed
with the realization that God was giving me 23 nights to show
these people that much, if not all, that they had ever learned about
religion was false and that Jesus was their Savior! Burdened
with that weight of responsibility the words “O Lord, how am
I ever going to do this?” escaped from my lips!
God answered my question in His own words, “And I if I be lifted
up from the earth will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32. Immediately
I responded with, “Yes, Lord, that is the solution!” I promised
that if He would stand by my side every night, helping me to
show how every teaching we have is centered in Him, I would have
the courage to stand up there and open my mouth for Him to speak
through. The Lord did stand by my side every night, giving me
the right words for every presentation! That village witnessed
the establishment of a strong, permanent, though small Seventh-day
Adventist church!
As the meetings were nearing completion a deep longing sprang
up within my heart, “Oh that God would bring me back to India,
so I could do this again and again!” Early one morning the Lord
responded to this deep longing that He’d planted in my heart.
As I sent my request to Him, He assured me, “Roger, I am bringing
you back because I have work here for you to do!” His assurance
was so definite I began telling friends I’d be back. Asked when,
I could only say, “He hasn’t told me that yet; I just know I’ll
be back
God Provided the Way
But permit me to back track a bit to the time that I first received
the Amazing Facts invitation. Just previous to this my wife
and I had been “tent maker” missionaries in several countries,
and had no real savings left for such a venture—not even for
the air fare. Not wanting to run when I wasn’t sent, and longing
for divine confirmation for my involvement in this project, I
looked heavenward, not only for strength and wisdom to do the
best possible job, but that if He was really behind this invitation,
He would provide the wherewithal without my asking anyone for
it.
I clung to God’s promises in Philippians 4:19, Ephesians
3:20, etc., where God promises to supply, even beyond all
we can ask or think, for our every need to advance His work.
Funds began to appear in the most interesting ways. Things happened
so rapidly that I really had no time to do anything but procure and organize
my materials and pack my bags.
As I boarded the plane in Denver a few weeks later bound for
India I finally had time to figure up just how much God had sent
me: the figure was $3,551.00. At first Amazing Facts advised that
I should take $3,500.00 with me for all the expenses involved.
Later they revised their estimate to $4,500.00 since hotel lodging
was found to be more expensive than first believed.
Mentally searching for ways to stretch that $3,551.00, I asked
my Father in Heaven to work something out so I might be able
to lodge with an Indian family. He did exactly that! Staying
with that family was a very rewarding experience, helping me
to better understand the Indian people, and how best to minister
to them as well as simply forming closer ties with them.
Later, as I anticipated going back to India, I made that same agreement
with the Lord about not asking for money. One Sabbath a senior
brother in the Church asked me if I wanted to go back to India.
Emphasizing the great needs I’d seen in India I affirmed I would
indeed like to return, this time with my wife, and spend a year
working there. Looking me in the eye, he said, “Get your loose
ends tied up.” And then he offered me a sum—and what a sum! It
was the exact amount I had calculated would be necessary to cover
the costs of such a project for an entire year.
Classes for Pentecostal Pastors
When Doug Batchelor was in India, a Pentecostal pastor from the
State of Andhra Pradesh had asked if Doug could possibly go up
to his area to teach some 30 Pentecostal pastors just what Seventh-day
Adventists believe. Of course, Doug was very interested, but
lacked the time to go those 500 miles north from Chennai (formerly
Madras) and take 30 question-filled Pentecostal pastors through
an intensive course of Bible doctrines. Doug knew they needed
more than a crash course! Nine months later my wife and I arrived
in India. Learning of our arrival in Chennai, the Amazing Facts
director wondered if I’d be willing to tackle the job. Even as
he was speaking I sensed God had been preparing me for this all
along. Accepting the challenge soon put us on our way 500 miles
north.
Procuring a car and an Indian driver’s License was hard, but
a minor hurdle compared to the rest that that first year held
in store! Classes in 3-hour blocks (one in the morning and one
in the afternoon) were scheduled each week for those 30 pastors,
while every night we held evangelistic meetings in another location.
Apparently those 30 pastoral students talked a lot about the classes, for
after a few weeks there were no longer 30 in attendance but 75!
More than busy was only the beginning. We soon began speaking
12 times EVERY WEEK for the next 10 months. But the results were
more than worth the busy investment. The Lord gently wooed 13
Pentecostal congregations into a loving understanding of the
beauties of present truth. Responding to another Amazing Facts
request to form yet another congregation closer to Chennai brought
a total of 14 new churches, where the year before there had been
none.
Stone's Valley Foundation: Taking Care of Children
Churches, however, were not the only things that took shape that
first year. Moved with pity for the suffering of the many orphans
of the area we opened, “Stone’s Loving Care Orphanage.” Shortly
after opening, a Christian of another faith told us rather emphatically
that the word “Orphanage” must not be used in the name, for that
“word” would alert the local Hindu government officials that
ours was a Christian organization. Therefore, we must change the
name post haste! He said, “Use the word ‘Foundation’ in your
name. That’s a safe word to use here in India.” “Stone,” being
our last name, and living in a valley of stone quarries, the name,
“Stone’s Valley Foundation,” was a natural.
What We've Accomplished the Last 10+ Years
Now, you’re probably wondering just what’s been accomplished
in the last 10+ years. Let me first go on record as saying,
our dear Father in Heaven stands behind His promises—everyone
of them! He’s supplied all our needs, never leaving us to lack
for anything we ever really needed. Our Paymaster not only owns
all the cattle on a thousand hills but the hills on which those
cattle feed as well. His goodness is beyond words!!!
Our “Stone Foundation” started with but 4 children, expanding
to 18 by the end of the second year. During that second year
the Lord also formed 12 more new churches from our labors. Our
orphan population has varied from 25 to 40 children during the
past 5 years, with girls always accounting for more than half
the number. Now we have 74. Each year has seen more churches
established until presently we have over 70 new congregations
cared for by 42 pastors whose monthly salaries are the responsibility
of the Foundation.
Last year a young acquaintance asked why I didn’t teach more
pastors. Wasn’t 140 enough? I wondered, mentally reviewing the
cost involved. You see, teaching pastors here in India involves
our paying their round trip transportation plus lunch. These
men would never be able to come otherwise. “But sir, wouldn’t
you be able to teach just a few more at this other location?”
I finally agreed to a FEW more.
The next Thursday he had 17 pastors
for me to teach. Well, that is a few. The next week there were
23, the following week 57! I mentioned I thought we had enough
for now, but he said, “Oh just a ‘few few’ more, please!” Uhh,
well, reluctantly I agreed to a ‘few few’ more. Next week I learned
the meaning of ‘few few’ as 157 crowded the place with 218 coming
the following week. The ‘few few’ did finally stabilize at 220
each week at the other location, and both together totaled 360
pastors—each week.
Some of these men were riding the train from
5 hours to the north while others were coming from 4 hours to
the south to attend the classes. The weekly cost for all of this
travel and food for these 360 pastors came to $600.00! Many times
I wondered just how the Foundation would pull through the week.
However, the Lord knew all about the needs and before the need
was felt in India He moved on hearts far away to send help, which
always arrived before the moment of need! AMAZING FACT: No pastoral
student ever missed his meal or his ride!
Three times in nine months I covered the principal Seventh-day
Adventist doctrines. The third time through, as I presented the
Sabbath, about 60 understood its significance and accepted it!
At that very time 2 other men came asking for classes in their
areas—80 pastors in one area with 32 in the other. Already speaking
and teaching 14 times every week, I simply could not stretch
myself further, so I had to turn down these other requests! I
felt sad, but from experience I knew that speaking 12 to 18 times
each week for many months brings me to a point of mental exhaustion
requiring a breather before I can take the work up again.
Maranatha Churches
One day a Seventh-day Adventist Bible teacher, called to tell
me of an area where Maranatha had built 422 beautiful new churches.
There was a problem. The Conference simply did not have the pastors
for so many new congregations. The Conference recruited as many
men as possible and provided as much instruction in Seventh-day
Adventist doctrines as there was time for, but more teaching
was necessary. This brother volunteered to teach as many of these
men as he could if I would be willing to furnish the finances.
Initially, he only told me about 40 churches. Three weeks after
starting classes for the 40 church pastors, the Conference president
called saying, “I’ve been attending the classes; they’re wonderful!
Actually there are 350 pastors altogether who need these same
classes. Our experienced pastors really need a refresher course…and
the new ones, well, they need much more training. Brother Stone,
would you be willing for me to move that teacher to a different ‘Circle’
each week of the month?” So, it was agreed we’d take care of
4 “Circles” each month instead of just one.
We’re now training
175 each month instead of 40. Sounds good? Yes, until we think
of the others who are still waiting for the preparation they
so desperately need! A major problem is the near impossibility
of finding a teacher there who understands our doctrines well
enough to teach them. I would like to mention that the president
is a good teacher and does do his share!
Meals, a Home, and a School
Another day, another phone call, from this same brother! “There
are 55 children here who have no father, and 34 of these are
of mothers with AIDS. Would you be willing to furnish just one
meal a day for these kids? You know, Brother Stone, many of these
children don’t have any food several days each week.” Well,
what would you do with such a request? “Oh, of course I’m willing,
but ….”
Interrupting, he continued, “My wife, you know, is the principal
of the Adventist school in town. Could you possibly rent a house
near the school so there will be somewhere to prepare the food?
And these kids are needing to have uniforms … and … and ….” The final
agreement was: we’d help furnish diesel for the bus to pick up
the 55 children along with the other school children, rent a
house, hire a cook, and pay for a tutor to help these 55 to catch
up to where they should be in their classes!
The Stone Foundation
also sponsors 12 young people to go to Flaiz Memorial Adventist
Academy, with another 6 girls in nursing school, and 6 more starting
this next school year.
Television Ministry
Recently, the owner of a TV station approached Pastor Elisha Rao,
asking him if we would be willing to start a program, explaining
Seventh-day Adventist teachings. Elisha Rao informed the owner that we couldn’t
afford to spend the money it would take to do something like
that. The owner told him how much they liked the Seventh-day Adventist programs
already in existence, and said they would be willing to give
it to us for half price! He then named an unbelievably low
price! To make a long story short: We did sign a contract and
did begin the programs. The response has been fantastic!!!
The program airs at 5:30 each Friday morning. At first I was unhappy
to have it air so early in the morning. But as soon as phone
calls started coming in, I could see that everything was in God’s
timing! We have been reaching many Muslim women who are completely
cut off from everyone except their own families. They have been
calling and telling how they have accepted Jesus after viewing
our program, while their families were sleeping! They warn us
to never try to contact them. Also, many Hindus have accepted
Jesus when they have understood who He really is! We know that
we are going into at least 250,000 homes each week!
I hope that this short report has given you an idea of what laymen are doing,
not only in India, but around the world. We all need so badly
to implicitly believe God’s Word, knowing HE IS BEHIND ALL OF
HIS PROMISES!!! HE WILL KEEP HIS WORD! HE DOES CARE FOR HIS OWN!
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