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Listen as Dr. Coleman announces the baptism of his
grandson, Cole. And, as he tells the story of
his own baptism. As you will see, it takes the
efforts of many people to bring a child to Jesus
Christ. Remember to bring others along with you
too! - Bob
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A Letter to
Cole from Granddaddy Coleman
By Dr. G.
Byrns Coleman
Dear Cole,
You’re 10 years old. Double digits. Wow. That
is exciting. And, next Sunday will be YOUR special
day – your baptism. That is even more exciting
and, in fact, life changing. I was nine years old
when I was baptized; I wanted to tell you about it.
If I tried to tell you in person, I might cry (like
your Mom does when she’s happy!).
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We lived on 4th
Avenue East in Springfield, Tennessee. 4th
Avenue was a dirt road that dead-ended
into the Black Branch at the bottom of the
hill. There was a wooden bridge across the
branch and a path up the hill to where 4th
Avenue continued.
Springfield Baptist
Church was on the corner of 4th Avenue and
Main Street, at the top of the hill. You
could almost see the church from our
house; it was walking distance.
Every Sunday, Mama
and Daddy made sure that all six of us
kids were dressed in the best we had and
herded off to Church. It must have been a
sight – all of us kids (not just our
family, but several others, too) heading
off down the hill to Black Branch, up the
hill to the church.
So, Sunday was a day
for Sunday School and Worship at the
Springfield Baptist Church. I heard
preaching there for as long as I could
remember. My Pastor was Dr. Ralph Moore.,
and I had heard him preach those growing
up years. He had two daughters about my
age; I actually went to Belmont College
with his oldest daughter.
I still remember
when Dr. Moore came to our house and sat
with Mama and me in our house. I
don’t remember whether we were having
a revival or that this was just a regular
visit to those who were getting ready to
make some kind of decision about Jesus,
and baptism, and the church.
I do remember like
it was yesterday – it has been 65
years ago! – that after we had talked
a little while (I guess we talked about
Jesus and the church), Dr. Moore looked at
me and asked: “Would you like to take
Jesus as your Savior today?” I said:
“Yes!” That was that. It was
real. I was only nine, but it was real and
has been just as real for all these years
of my life.
Every now and then,
I go back to that meeting at 219 4th
Avenue, East. I can almost hear Dr.
Moore’s voice asking that
life-changing question. I remember my
hardy “yes” answer. I say, again
almost out loud, “Thank you, Dr.
Moore, for caring about a little boy nine
years old.” “Thank you, Mama
(and Daddy, too) for all you did for all
of us six kids.”
I’ve grown
older, finished high school and college,
gone off to seminary, and taught at
Wingate College (now University) for 50
years. I’ve grown a lot
intellectually. I know a lot now that I
did not know at age 9, and my faith has
grown. But it is the same faith that was
in my heart at age 9. So, thank you,
Dr. Moore. Thank you, Mama. Thank you,
Jesus.
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So, Sunday, March 21,
2010, Wilson Coleman Hancock will be baptized
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit. We’ll be there to say “amen”
and to cheer you on as you enter the waters of
baptism – being buried with Jesus, and as you
are raised up into life as a new creature in Christ
Jesus.
Again, I will remember my own
baptism from all those years ago, and I’ll
say, “Thank you” to all those who helped
me along the way. For Cole, I’ll say
“thank you” to Jo, Roger, Bethany, Hugh,
Nanny, Grandmama and Granddaddy Coleman, pastors,
Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and to all
the many others who’ve loved and nudged him
along the way!
“Thank you, Lord, for
saving my soul;
Thank you, Lord, for
making me whole.
Thank you, Lord, for
giving to me,
Thy salvation, so rich and
free.” AMEN!
March 16, 2010
About the
Author
G. Byrns Coleman is Professor
of Religion and Chair of Department of Religion
& Philosophy, Wingate
University, Wingate, NC
. He is also a member of Wingate
Baptist Church
.
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If you have never made the
commitment to receive the love and life-changing
experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment
to go
here and take the
first
steps to
salvation.
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