Our History
Note: 220 is the name of the youth ministry of Bethany World Prayer Center and is named after Galatians 2:20.
220 is a unique community that has developed out of the great need in today's society for replaced parental training and Biblical values. Birthed out of the heart of Pastor Joel Stockstill in 2003 for the needy and hurting, 220 meshes cutting edge thinking with old-school methods in order to propel young people into the best chance possible for them to succeed in life and family. This outreach began with 70 students and a dream for national impact. Now, 220 has a weekly impact of over 7,000 students. Along the journey of developing such a culture, the need for mentors and example forced a group of highly developed, big-hearted college students, ages 18-25 years old, to form. This group is a tight-knit "army" of volunteers who are motivated by love and compassion to reach the target age of 220 (junior high and high school students). These 250 mentors take their message and model of hope into various junior highs and high schools in a four-parish region each week. They also lead mentoring groups in coffee houses, homes, and anywhere that will provide space for their one-hour time. The final aspect of 220 is kick started by the desire of a young person to become a mentor and make a difference in the same way they were affected. This self-perpetuating community has now moved into multigenerational waters and is led by two of Pastor Joel's initial protégé's, Joshua and Amy Roberie. The community of 220 is something studied all over the world and is being emulated in some degree by leaders nationwide.