Ps. Larry Stockstill
Pastor Emeritus · Bethany Church
Address 10877 Reiger Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, USA
Larry Stockstill was called into the ministry at the age of 16 and immediately responded to that call. After graduating in 1971 from Baker High School in Baker, Louisiana, he enrolled in Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in 1975 with a degree in theological and historical studies. Upon graduation, Stockstill continued at ORU as associate chaplain until 1976. At that time, he and his wife, Melanie, moved to West Africa to serve as missionaries in Nigeria and Ghana. In 1978 they returned to Louisiana, where Stockstill joined the pastoral staff of Bethany World Prayer Center, the church his father, Roy, had founded in 1963.
In August 1983, Roy Stockstill retired as senior pastor of Bethany, and the mantle of leadership passed to his son, Larry. Both Stockstills emphasized simplicity, sincerity, and sacrifice as the guiding principles for the church, and Larry built upon the foundation laid by his father. Bethany had increased from 2,000 members to 5,500 members, thus necessitating the need for a larger sanctuary. The current structure on Plank Road in Baker resulted, capable of seating 6,000 people.
During the ensuing years, Bethany continued to grow and prosper. In 2001, another branch of Bethany was opened, this time in the south part of Baton Rouge. Called Bethany South, this congregation has grown rapidly in their 2400 seat sanctuary and two services.
When Bethany was founded in 1963, giving to world missions was established as a cornerstone of the church, with the first check ever being written designated for missions. Each year has seen an increase in missions giving, both local and foreign, with several million dollars now being given annually. Since 2001, Bethany has planted over 15,000 churches around the world through the Surge Project, an international church-planting venture, and is seeing great fruit from this effort.
Another trademark of Bethany is its emphasis on small group involvement for its members. In this capacity, members meet weekly in small groups in homes throughout the city and surrounding area. Small group ministry has become an integral part of Bethany's core values. In 2011, Stockstill's son, Jonathan, became the third Stockstill to pastor this church of now almost 60 years. Jonathan has added three new campuses in Livingston Parish, Houma, and downtown New Orleans.
In addition to traveling widely internationally, Stockstill launched the "Pastors University" in January, 2020. It teaches "50 lessons from 50 years." 350 pastors and wives have been through this four module, practical course on the "how to's of pastoring."
Stockstill and his wife, Melanie, have six children and are expecting their 19th grandchild in 2023.
