Baptism - My Testimony
Today we are having two of our “Special Ordinances” of our church. Baptism and Our Lord’s Supper. But for the one being Baptized, it has such meaning.
Let me share with you when I was baptized. I was 13 years old, in the youth dept. There were 5 other youths who were saved that Sunday including my friend who was blind, Charlotte McFatridge. She came to church with me for many years and sang in the choir with me also. In the later years, she had a yellow lab, seeing eye dog, named Sandy. I remember being a young teenager and hoping I would see my family all come to be saved. A few years later, my brother Paul, became a Christian. Nadine followed a couple of years later, and Dennis followed after Nadine. My dad started coming to church in the 1980’s rededicating his life to the Lord and my mother also started coming to church. I found God to be true in answering my prayer for my family.
Then I met Dale in 1975. I liked him a lot, but I did not know if he was really a Christian because he had a problem. He asked me to marry him, but……. I knew I was saved, but when I went to the Lord about this, God said, this is who I have chosen for you. Dale had a way of growing on a person, and with my assurance of God’s answer, I said, yes. We were married, on Dec. 20, 1975. Everything was good, but Dale’s problem, drinking, kept coming between us. So I kept praying. Even though Dale said he had accepted Jesus, I wasn’t sure. His weekends being drunk did not live up to being a Christian to me.
Then in 1979, a beautiful baby boy was born into our home. I thought sure “Dad” would give up drinking then. No, it did not happen.
Easter weekend 1980, our son was 3 months old, Dale had been drinking all weekend. I got up Sunday morning, got me and Chris ready for church and we left Dale, very sick and hung over. I had planned when I got home from church to tell Dale to get his things together and leave. I was not going to raise our son in a home with an alcoholic father.
When I got to church our pastor then, ask me where Dale was. I told him, he was home sick from the worst drinking binge I had ever seen. I told him when I get home, I am going to tell him to pack his things and leave, I’m done. The pastor said, “Give me your house keys.” I told him “No, you are not going to our house.” He did go to our house. I did not know what happen until I got home after church.
When I got home, I thought I would find Dale still sick, but he was up, showered, dressed, and feeling better. He said, “Gertie, I need to talk to you.” He said, “The preacher was here this morning.” “He took his dress coat off, got a washcloth, put it in some cold water and washed my face several times, held my head while I threw up in the bathroom sink.” Do you know what he told me? He told me how much God loved me. He told me he loved me. He told me you and Chris loved me. But he told me God loved me too much for me to throw my life away on a bottle of beer. Gertie, if God loves me that much, that last bottle of beer I had last night will be my last, I promise you, God, my son, and that preacher.”
That was the last bottle of beer Dale ever touched in his life. His friends came that next Friday night to go party, but he said, no boys, I’m going to church with my family. They made all matter of fun of him, but he went to church that Sunday, the next and the next and the next, you get the idea. Soon he was going on Wednesday and anytime we had church. He was a man after the heart of God. Yes, he still had faults, he had a temper, no, he was not perfect, but he loved the Lord. oh, how he loved you, his church family. Our son was saved at the age of 6 years old because he was raised in a Christian home. Chris now serves in his church in Lincoln, Illinois. One of the last things Dale told me before he passed away was, Gertie, I want to go to church one more time, you know what I mean. Yes, I did, we had his funeral here at church. I’m so glad we did his wishes, Nadine was able to go “Home” from her church, so God knew what He was doing. I listened to Chris talk at Dale’s funeral,” Dad was a wonderful man, he was a hard man sometimes, but I am proud to say he is my Dad.” All I can say is Praise the Lord and yes God, I understand why I was supposed to marry him way back there in 1975. God knew what the future held and knew Dale would need some help.
Why am I telling you all of this? God has blessed us now, just as He did years ago, with a wonderful, caring pastor. Pastor Lupe has a heart for the Lord and for the congregation, the Lord has given him to Shepherd. He cares about each one of you very much. If you or someone you love, has a burden, just call or come by the office, Pastor Lupe will always be willing to help anyone to give “those burdens to the Lord.” Families are important, and life is hard, but our church family is a strong family, with a good strong “faith in God.” We have to be reaching out to families, young or old. Loving on people just like Jesus does. This kind of love can and will last a lifetime for someone, I know, I was part of that experience!!! I always wonder what if no one cared about our little family way back years ago? It had to be hard watching a man throw up, but that preacher took off his coat, stayed, and washed Dale’s face anyway. Don’t be afraid to come in and talk to Pastor Lupe. Folks, when you come right down to it, the Good Lord and each other are about all we have in this world, it’s about all we have and all we really need. I love coming to church, the Christian fellowship, all the music worship, and the anointed preaching. Let’s be taking it up and down the streets of Union County. People do need the Lord !!!!
I love sharing how my Lord has blessed me. I think we need to share our blessings with each other. It might help someone who is struggling and needs some encouragement along the way. If that’s you, I know where a little encouragement can be found and where a lift for your burdens can be found too. God loves to love on each of us, He’s just waiting on the ok sometimes to do so. Come on in, the door is always open.
Love you, my family,
Sharon
