Oh! What a joy!
Sunday after church, we had 11 that got baptized!
Let me set the scene in your mind so you will understand why I want to run around and shout every time I think about it.
Our pastor has been struggling health-wise so he was advised NOT to go in the water. And, this was not an indoor baptism with warm water either; this was in Cherokee Lake. It was raining, windy, and about 40-some degrees out. (It has been in the 70's and 80's so it felt really cold!)
Since the pastor couldn't go in, he asked me to help with the baptism!
What an honor!
What a privilege!
What a blessing!
This was my first time ever doing this.
On the van ride there, I asked everybody to pray real hard for some sunshine. I know God heard our prayer, but we got rain instead of sunshine.
As we stood on the bank singing, it rained and the wind blew. I was shivering.
Next brothers Chuckie and Ernest head out into the water.
Pastor asked us all to join hands and I led them out into the water
At first, the water felt cold, then a warmth started to take over from my feet to my head. I continued to shout praises to GOD. I told everyone that the devil wasn't going to take my joy! And if he tried, there was enough of us there to beat him up and take it back! (1Samuel 30:7-8)
I'm in the far right of the next picture
This is my dear brother (in the LORD) Scott. A few months ago, he repented and rededicated his life to CHRIST.
This is his girlfriend Kristy. She had been praying for Scott for a long time.
Ain't GOD good?!
(ALL the time!!!)
These next ones are very special. In the red shirt is Kenny. The young lady next in line is Trish.
One of the ministries at the church put me in a position to minister to Trish. Trish started regularly attending our church and immediately began witnessing for CHRIST. She let nothing hinder her when she witnessed to Kenny. Kenny, at that time was in bondage to alcohol. While she was witnessing to Kenny, Billy (in the grey shirt with maroon sleeves) overheard the conversation. Amazed at what he heard he followed Trish to church and rededicated his life to CHRIST. We all got to see Kenny come forward and pray. Kenny later came forward and asked for prayer as alcohol continued to afflict him. He asked my wife to pray with him that he would throw up if alcohol ever touched his lips again.
Are any of us that dedicated to the cause of CHRIST to pray a prayer like that?
So, ministry led me to Trish,
Trish witnesses to Kenny,
Billy is converted from Trish witnessing to Kenny,
Trish and Billy witness to Kenny,
Kenny gets saved,
and I get to help baptize them all!
OH! What joy the LORD affords us!
Kenny was so excited! And he probably still is!
Bobby and Charlotte were acting on
Revelation 2:5 "...and do the first works..."
In these next pictures I'm not sure if I was shouting or laughing or both, but I did a whole lot of both that day!
Sister Charlotte testified last night. She said she had a terrible cough BEFORE she was baptized, but afterward she felt great!
Ain't GOD good?!
(ALL the time!!!)
Oh! I just want to thank GOD for this wonderful blessing!
I thank GOD for my wife- she has spent a lot of time witnessing to Kenny, and ministering to others!
I thank GOD for my children and their testimony!
I thank GOD for Full Gospel Christian Fellowship Church!
I thank GOD for brothers Tony, Chuckie, and Ernest for letting me help baptize!
I thank GOD for all the faithful believers who were obedient that day and got baptized!
Oh! That the joy will never end!
