Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 28:19
Today I witnessed a handful of miracles...
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 28:19
Today I witnessed a handful of miracles...
This morning we had our regularly weekly worship service in the chapel. It went well and God touched hearts through the words which were spoken by the visiting minister, my chaplain, and by one of the elder brothers. They each had a message for us from the Bible.
This afternoon, however, there was a baptismal service for those men who are new Christians. Approximately twice per year my chaplain, along with the inmates who work in the chapel, would bring out of storage a large baptismal tank. They would then push it into the chapel where it would get filled with water. From here my chaplain would conduct a special service for those wishing to be baptized, as well as for those from the congregation, such as myself, who wanted to attend.
To me, baptism by complete immersion in water is a beautiful sight to behold. It is a sacred moment in which those who have professed faith in Christ now get to make a public confession of it.
Therefore, at 12:45 this afternoon, after the lunch meal was finished, those members of my congregation who were on a pre-approved "callout" list were permitted to leave our respective cell blocks and return to the chapel for the baptism. There were five men scheduled to be baptized. And so, one by one, each man took his turn to walk up the portable wooden steps and climb into the tank where the chaplain would guide each one in and out of the water. Meanwhile those of us in attendance applauded vigorously.
Thus in obedience to the Lord's scriptural command, five men from different backgrounds took their stand for Christ through the public confession of baptism. Afterwards, each gave his testimony when it was his turn to speak. There was Eugene, a big boned black man who said his age was forty-nine. Eugene was a drug dealer who's doing a fifteen year sentence for Manslaughter in the First Degree. He hails from New York City. Next was Anthony, a 35 year old black man with an afro hair style now doing twenty-five years to life for murder. Anthony's from the city of Albany. Then there was Rowland, a 27 year old ex-gang member from the "streets" of Brooklyn, who's doing 20 years to life for 2nd degree murder. And Melvin, age 48, who pled guilty to a string of crimes he said he committed while he was "strung-out" on drugs. Melvin got twenty-four years. And finally, there was Martin, a baby-faced man of only nineteen, and white, who lived with his parents in a little town in upstate New York. Fortunately for Martin his sentence is only five years.
But whatever crimes brought these men to prison, and no matter how much time they must do, they're now members of God's family. In the Lord's eyes they're sitting in "heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)." The world is no longer their home. Like me, they're just passing through.
D.B.
This afternoon, however, there was a baptismal service for those men who are new Christians. Approximately twice per year my chaplain, along with the inmates who work in the chapel, would bring out of storage a large baptismal tank. They would then push it into the chapel where it would get filled with water. From here my chaplain would conduct a special service for those wishing to be baptized, as well as for those from the congregation, such as myself, who wanted to attend.
To me, baptism by complete immersion in water is a beautiful sight to behold. It is a sacred moment in which those who have professed faith in Christ now get to make a public confession of it.
Therefore, at 12:45 this afternoon, after the lunch meal was finished, those members of my congregation who were on a pre-approved "callout" list were permitted to leave our respective cell blocks and return to the chapel for the baptism. There were five men scheduled to be baptized. And so, one by one, each man took his turn to walk up the portable wooden steps and climb into the tank where the chaplain would guide each one in and out of the water. Meanwhile those of us in attendance applauded vigorously.
Thus in obedience to the Lord's scriptural command, five men from different backgrounds took their stand for Christ through the public confession of baptism. Afterwards, each gave his testimony when it was his turn to speak. There was Eugene, a big boned black man who said his age was forty-nine. Eugene was a drug dealer who's doing a fifteen year sentence for Manslaughter in the First Degree. He hails from New York City. Next was Anthony, a 35 year old black man with an afro hair style now doing twenty-five years to life for murder. Anthony's from the city of Albany. Then there was Rowland, a 27 year old ex-gang member from the "streets" of Brooklyn, who's doing 20 years to life for 2nd degree murder. And Melvin, age 48, who pled guilty to a string of crimes he said he committed while he was "strung-out" on drugs. Melvin got twenty-four years. And finally, there was Martin, a baby-faced man of only nineteen, and white, who lived with his parents in a little town in upstate New York. Fortunately for Martin his sentence is only five years.
But whatever crimes brought these men to prison, and no matter how much time they must do, they're now members of God's family. In the Lord's eyes they're sitting in "heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)." The world is no longer their home. Like me, they're just passing through.
D.B.
