For more than a decade, the Christian Law Association was blessed by the faithful prayers of a very special friend, Thomas “Tom” Stokes.
Tom was blind, but he never allowed that limitation to keep him from asking what he could do for the Lord and for others. And what he could do, he did faithfully. Prayer became Tom’s ministry.
Day after day, Tom called our offices for one simple reason—to pray with us and for us. CLA was only one of many ministries, friends, and individuals he faithfully remembered. Throughout each week, Tom would personally call approximately 150 people to pray with them, encourage them, and let them know they were not forgotten.
Remarkably, Tom had an extraordinary memory. He could remember an amazing number of telephone numbers without needing to look them up. He also had the unusual ability to hear someone’s birth date and tell them the day of the week on which they were born. Those who knew him could not help but marvel at the gifts God had given him.
But what we will remember most was Tom’s heart. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and he wanted his life to be a blessing. He used what God had given him and faithfully did what he could.
We cannot begin to measure how many burdens were lightened, battles were helped, and lives were encouraged because Tom prayed. His familiar calls will be deeply missed at CLA, but we rejoice knowing that the friend who prayed with us so faithfully is now in the presence of the Savior to whom he prayed.
Tom reminded us that every Christian has something he can do for the Lord. Thank you for standing with this ministry on your knees. Your faithfulness will never be forgotten.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).