PHOTO: The beautiful Joyce Mostrom, who used to sing in a woman's quartet during her years at Wheaton College on the radio broadcast of a young preacher named Billy Graham.
Don and Joyce Mostrom founded Renewal Prayer Network (RPN) and it was incorporated in 1994. From the beginning, their heart was for renewal in the church through prayer and networking and thus its name. Unity has always been at the heart of RPN. The life call for Don and Joyce was concerning an awakening through the unity of believers. And that remains at the heart of RPN.
I still remember the day that Don passed from this life to go home to be with Jesus. I stopped in to see Joyce, and with a huge smile on her face and joy in her voice she exclaimed, "Imagine how Don is experiencing Jesus now."
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ALSO: See Obituary below
Last Wednesday, May 23rd, Joyce went home to be with Jesus as well. With tears in my eyes I just think of those words that she said, and now I say concerning Joyce, "Imagine how she is experiencing Jesus now".
In 1 Thessalonians 4 we are told to encourage each other with the hope that we have. The hope of Jesus's return, the hope of the resurrection of the dead. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5 that he longs to be with Jesus in his Heavenly home. He goes on to say that to be absent from the body is to be with the Lord. This is the hope that we have in Jesus.
Now Don and Joyce are experiencing that perfect unity with The Father, Son and The Holy Spirit. I hope you are encouraged with a thought of our heavenly home, the return of Christ and experiencing God's glory forever.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we thank you for the Saints who've gone on to be home with you. Those who have gone before us, whose shoulders we stand on now. For those who sought first your kingdom and your righteousness. Lord we thank you for the prayers of the Saints and how you are collecting the prayers. Father, we ask you for the awakening that saints like Don and Joyce had been longing. Lord may we have that same longing, may you draw others to long for an awakening as well.
OBITUARY:
Elizabeth Joyce Ferrin Mostrom passed away on May 23, 2018, at the age of 93 years and 8 months. She was preceded in death by her husband Don in 2008. Born in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, she spent her growing-up years in Rhode Island. She and Don began their life-long Christian ministry in Jersey City, New Jersey, where Don served as a pastor. They then lived in upstate New York where Joyce taught first grade for over 20 years. Both were deeply involved with their beloved Peniel Bible Conference and Faith Baptist Church. They also founded the Renewal Prayer Network, which is continuing to do God’s work in the New York Capitol District. Joyce (Betty Joyce to her siblings) lived for the last 9+ years with her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Kath and Jim Brownson, in Holland, Michigan, with occasional happy trips to El Paso, Texas to visit her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Lisa Mahuron Mostrom. She enjoyed the last several summers in Hibbing, Minnesota, with her eldest daughter and son-in-law, Marion and Jim Huber, where she passed away.
In addition to her children, she leaves behind 7 grandchildren: Jenn Huber-Julie (Doug Julie), Katie Huber-Keener (Jay Keener), David Mostrom, Jessica Mostrom Teitsworth (Lance Teitsworth), Rachel Brownson, Anna Brownson Prinz (Mark Prinz), and Will Brownson (Michael Hairston Brownson), and two great-grandchildren, Ben Keener, and Ella Julie. She is also survived by two of her five siblings, Paul Ferrin and Priscilla Leavitt, and three sisters-in-law.
Joyce was devoted to her Savior Jesus Christ, serving Him in ministries of prayer, counseling, and teaching. She spent her lifetime in personal fellowship with her Lord, with countless hours of reading Scripture and responding to God in prayer in a spirit of consistent trust and hope. She was a gifted pianist and vocalist, including singing solos as a child on her father’s (Dr. Howard Ferrin) live evangelistic radio broadcast out of Boston, and later, while a student at Wheaton College, as member of a women’s quartet singing on the radio broadcast of a young preacher named Billy Graham. She also delighted audiences with Christopher Robin recitations and her roles in dramatic productions. After her move to Holland, she became a member of Christ Memorial Church and regularly participated in worship, a women’s Bible study, times of fellowship, and educational opportunities. She met weekly for prayer with her friends at Freedom Village. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
There will be a Memorial Service in the chapel at Christ Memorial Church on July 14, 2018 at 4:00 p.m., with light refreshments afterward. Memorial contributions can be made to Renewal Prayer Network, P.O. Box 11316, Albany, NY 12211 and Peniel Bible Conference, 336 Lake Tour Rd., P.O. Box 369, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846.