September 2025
Dear Praying Friends,
As we waded out into the surf, she confided that she had almost drowned as a
child and had always struggled with water ever since. She was absolutely
terrified of the ocean and was weeping as we made our way out from the
shore. I thought, “Now, you tell me this?” I tried to calm her but her childhood
terror took over. She said, “Pastor, I don’t think I can do this. I don’t think I
can be baptized.” She gripped my arm in terror as the waves washed around
us, she wept openly, hiding her face from the scene.
I normally wade out about rib cage deep into the water to make baptizing
easier, but because of this dear lady’s fear, I stopped when we were just waist
deep in the sea. She said, “I cannot have water go over my face, just the
thought of having water over my face, terrifies me!” She sobbed
uncontrollably in her panic.
I asked her, “Did Jesus command you to obey Him?” That stopped her descent
into fear. She simply nodded, too emotional to say anything. As she gripped
one arm, I raised my other hand, repeated the Scriptures to those assembled on
shore and then baptized her. She came up spluttering and crying, but then I
said, “You obeyed the Lord in spite of your fears, this is a day of victory,
sister!” For the first time that morning, she smiled and said, “Praise the Lord!”
To which I responded with a heart felt, “AMEN!!!!”
Thankful for her obedience,
Mark Hale
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