What Is Your Baptism Story?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Sam in February 2007

Speaking of Bro. Jimmy Russell,

This is from pages 46-49 of the book,The Coal Miner preacher.
It is an autobiography of Bro. Jimmy Russell

on Sunday afternoon we
had an hour program on WFMW that was called “The
Beams of Light.” We featured our choirs and other
singers. We ministered on the radio for about eight years.
One day as I was driving to Princeton for one of the
broadcasts I came to Ward’s Creek. Just as I crossed this
creek, I looked down at the water and the big tree leaning
out over the creek, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Tell them
on the radio that by faith you are coming to Ward’s Creek
for a baptizing under that leaning tree after the broadcast.”
I did not know of a soul to be baptized. Twice during
my radio message I told the listeners about the faith baptismal
service.

After the broadcast I got in my car and drove toward
the creek. There was a long hill that went down toward
the creek. When I crested the hill, I saw cars parked on
both sides of the road, and cars were parked out in the
field. I think some of them wanted to watch me make a
fool of myself when no one showed up to be baptized.
I parked near the top of the hill and walked down to
the creek. I was careful to go where the tree leaned over
the water as I felt the Spirit had directed me. I opened my
Bible and preached for nearly an hour, unaware that the
creek was filling up with folks behind me. They had
waded out ready for baptism.

I pitched my Bible to Brother Floyd Jackson and
counted sixteen people waiting to be baptized in Jesus’
name. I waded out into waist-deep water and baptized
them. What an enjoyable experience! It was a very special,
God-ordained baptismal service. I never once
entertained the thought that God would let me down.
When my wife heard the broadcast at home, she
remarked, “I’m not worried. Someone will get baptized.”
My friend, Richard Sisk, heard my faith baptismal announcement
and told his wife, “I’m going over there to
see if anyone comes to it.” He had not been baptized in
Jesus’ name and had wrestled with the issue. On the way,
he told the Lord that if Brother Russell mentioned water
to him, he’d take that as a confirmation and get baptized.
He chose an obvious word and made it easy! All he
needed at that time was a nudge.

As I climbed up on the bank, Brother Sisk was standing
nearby. I reached up and shook his pant leg and said,
“Brother Sisk, the water’s wet.”
It stunned him. I had used his special word! He
quickly ran to his car and took off for Madisonville as fast
as the law would allow.
I stayed at the creek, feeling that Brother Sisk would
be back. I walked up the hill where my car was parked
and sat down in the front seat with my feet out on the
ground. I was still basking in the enjoyment of the
unusual baptismal service. I sat there for quite awhile.
Several cars turned off the road, and Brother Sisk’s
car was in front of them. He’d gone home to get a change
of clothes. It gave me a lot of pleasure to baptize my
friend in Jesus’ name just as the believers did all through
the Book of Acts. Three thousand people were baptized
on the Day of Pentecost. My tally for the day seemed
small by comparison, but it was growing. The night I was
baptized, ninety-six were baptized.

After Brother Sisk was baptized, a fellow kept hanging
around. He started ranting about how wrong it was to use
Jesus’ name in baptism. Evidently, like Brother Sisk, the
man had been in a tug-o-war frame of mind over Jesus
Name baptism and chose to verbally oppose me. He got
all worked up into a high pitch.

As he stepped on some moss-covered rocks at one shallow
part of the creek, intending to cross to the other side, he
fell, and a sharp rock punctured his arm. He held his arm,
and his face contorted in pain. A big knot formed on the arm.
I asked him, “What were you saying about Jesus’
Name baptism awhile ago?”

He admitted, “I don’t know if I believe it or not.”
I told him, “Follow me into the creek, and I’ll baptize
that knot away.”
He became childlike. “Do you believe that God would
heal me if you baptize me?”
“Yes, sir, I sure do,” I said. I led him into the water,
baptized him, watched him stand there and clap his
hands. The knot was gone, and God had won the
tug-o-war battle.

When the faith baptismal service was over, twenty-two
people had been baptized. As I drove home, a contented
sigh escaped my lips. “Isn’t God good?” What a pleasant
way to spend an afternoon—preaching and baptizing!
There were thirty-five people in the Princeton church
when I began pastoring. God added to the church in the
twenty months I was there, and there were 135 in attendance
when I left.

That was my post.
Then Eld. Epley added this comment:
That was not the only time he did that. They got calling Wards Creek Jesus Name Creek he baptized so many there.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

When my mom was in the hospital giving birth to my younger brother, my dad took me to the Catholic church without my Oneness PK, mom knowing and had me sprinkled with the waters of baptism and Hallelujah!

Oh...this isn't the one? sorry.

This explains a lot!!!!!!

[Amanah]

I was baptized in Jesus name by Bro Joel Velie at the Pentecostal Lighthouse in Melbourne Florida, when I was 15 years old.
One of his members was a street preacher and he stopped me in the mall and showed me Acts 2:38 and invited me to church. I already had the HG, received that in Virginia at a CoG that me and my Catholic Mother were visiting with a friend.

Later on my Mom and Sister were also baptized in Jesus name and Received the HG along with my Son.
Both my Mother and Son have since gone on to be with Jesus.

[ThePastorsCoach]

Originally Posted by Sam

Originally Posted by Sam in February 2007

Speaking of Bro. Jimmy Russell,

This is from pages 46-49 of the book,The Coal Miner preacher.
It is an autobiography of Bro. Jimmy Russell

on Sunday afternoon we
had an hour program on WFMW that was called “The
Beams of Light.” We featured our choirs and other
singers. We ministered on the radio for about eight years.
One day as I was driving to Princeton for one of the
broadcasts I came to Ward’s Creek. Just as I crossed this
creek, I looked down at the water and the big tree leaning
out over the creek, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Tell them
on the radio that by faith you are coming to Ward’s Creek
for a baptizing under that leaning tree after the broadcast.”
I did not know of a soul to be baptized. Twice during
my radio message I told the listeners about the faith baptismal
service.

After the broadcast I got in my car and drove toward
the creek. There was a long hill that went down toward
the creek. When I crested the hill, I saw cars parked on
both sides of the road, and cars were parked out in the
field. I think some of them wanted to watch me make a
fool of myself when no one showed up to be baptized.
I parked near the top of the hill and walked down to
the creek. I was careful to go where the tree leaned over
the water as I felt the Spirit had directed me. I opened my
Bible and preached for nearly an hour, unaware that the
creek was filling up with folks behind me. They had
waded out ready for baptism.

I pitched my Bible to Brother Floyd Jackson and
counted sixteen people waiting to be baptized in Jesus’
name. I waded out into waist-deep water and baptized
them. What an enjoyable experience! It was a very special,
God-ordained baptismal service. I never once
entertained the thought that God would let me down.
When my wife heard the broadcast at home, she
remarked, “I’m not worried. Someone will get baptized.”
My friend, Richard Sisk, heard my faith baptismal announcement
and told his wife, “I’m going over there to
see if anyone comes to it.” He had not been baptized in
Jesus’ name and had wrestled with the issue. On the way,
he told the Lord that if Brother Russell mentioned water
to him, he’d take that as a confirmation and get baptized.
He chose an obvious word and made it easy! All he
needed at that time was a nudge.

As I climbed up on the bank, Brother Sisk was standing
nearby. I reached up and shook his pant leg and said,
“Brother Sisk, the water’s wet.”
It stunned him. I had used his special word! He
quickly ran to his car and took off for Madisonville as fast
as the law would allow.
I stayed at the creek, feeling that Brother Sisk would
be back. I walked up the hill where my car was parked
and sat down in the front seat with my feet out on the
ground. I was still basking in the enjoyment of the
unusual baptismal service. I sat there for quite awhile.
Several cars turned off the road, and Brother Sisk’s
car was in front of them. He’d gone home to get a change
of clothes. It gave me a lot of pleasure to baptize my
friend in Jesus’ name just as the believers did all through
the Book of Acts. Three thousand people were baptized
on the Day of Pentecost. My tally for the day seemed
small by comparison, but it was growing. The night I was
baptized, ninety-six were baptized.

After Brother Sisk was baptized, a fellow kept hanging
around. He started ranting about how wrong it was to use
Jesus’ name in baptism. Evidently, like Brother Sisk, the
man had been in a tug-o-war frame of mind over Jesus
Name baptism and chose to verbally oppose me. He got
all worked up into a high pitch.

As he stepped on some moss-covered rocks at one shallow
part of the creek, intending to cross to the other side, he
fell, and a sharp rock punctured his arm. He held his arm,
and his face contorted in pain. A big knot formed on the arm.
I asked him, “What were you saying about Jesus’
Name baptism awhile ago?”

He admitted, “I don’t know if I believe it or not.”
I told him, “Follow me into the creek, and I’ll baptize
that knot away.”
He became childlike. “Do you believe that God would
heal me if you baptize me?”
“Yes, sir, I sure do,” I said. I led him into the water,
baptized him, watched him stand there and clap his
hands. The knot was gone, and God had won the
tug-o-war battle.

When the faith baptismal service was over, twenty-two
people had been baptized. As I drove home, a contented
sigh escaped my lips. “Isn’t God good?” What a pleasant
way to spend an afternoon—preaching and baptizing!
There were thirty-five people in the Princeton church
when I began pastoring. God added to the church in the
twenty months I was there, and there were 135 in attendance
when I left.

That was my post.
Then Eld. Epley added this comment:
That was not the only time he did that. They got calling Wards Creek Jesus Name Creek he baptized so many there.

This brought great tears to my eyes. Brother Russell was a powerful man of God. I have met many people that were baptized by him. Almost every Pastor I ever preached for in or around Madisonville had been baptized by him. What a great man of Faith! I loved talking to him about Faith, healing, miracles and any other subject.

[ThePastorsCoach]

I was raised Church of God of Prophecy and was 4th generation in the CoGoP. I was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost during a COGOP Campmeeting in Eupora, MS at the age of 5. I was baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost at age 12 in Fields of the Woods, NC. After resigning my credentials with the COGOP in 1977 I was in much fasting and prayer about the direction of my ministry. In the winter of 1977, I was preaching for the Ecorse Church of God in Metro Detroit, Michigan and met Evangelist Tim Dyson who was a UPC Evangelist preaching for Pastor J D Butcher in Southgate, MI I think. After much debate between Tim Dyson and myself - I asked him to baptize me in the Name of Jesus Christ. There was something wrong with the baptistry in that church that night so they took me to another church that had a rock baptistry on the platform. I wish I knew where it was but cannot remember. They drew enough water in it to sit me down and lay me back and baptize me in the Name of Jesus Christ. I have since baptized thousands around the world in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. I have never baptized anyone any other way but in the Name of Jesus Christ. I had the privilege of baptizing all three of my children in the Name of Jesus Christ!

[Margies3]

I was baptized at First Apostolic Church in Toledo when I was 14 years old by Bro Robert Stroup. At the time, I was just visiting FAC on Sunday nights with a friend. My home church was the Swanton Missionary Church. I had repented that summer at the Missionary Church and knew that I wanted to be baptized (not realizing that the Missionary Church baptizes in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit). But at the Missionary Church baptism was only offered once a year on New Year's Eve because we had to borrow a baptistry to do it.

So when my friend took me to FAC and told me right away that if I wanted to be baptized, that could be done even tonight, I said yes. I had no idea that there was a difference in the mode of baptism.

When I got home, my parents were furious with the church for baptizing me without them giving their permission. (now that I'm a parent, I understand that!). And the pastor of the Missionary Church was angry because I had been baptized in a different formula than he believed in. In fact, I ended up getting kicked out of the Missionary Church over this whole thing. Geesh!!

The funny thing is that I have talked to many, many pastors since then (Methodist, Missionary and Missionary Alliance) who have all said that they see nothing wrong with either form of baptism. In fact, when asked all of them have said that if someone came to them and specifically asked to be baptized in Jesus' name, they would gladly do it.

[COOPER]

July 11, 1984

Baptized in the name at 17.

[berkeley]

whoah, talk about raising the dead.,