We recently shared with you about the baptism held by the Springvale Sudanese congregation. The same month, church members once again gathered to participate in another such occasion.
This time, Liz, the mother of six children, and her fourth son, Emanuel were among six members being baptised on May 22.
Liz first expressed her interest in being baptised back in 2019. Her husband however, a devoted Christian from another denomination, was strongly opposed and she chose to honour his decision. She did, however, stand firm and tell him she would not stop attending church on Sabbath. So Liz, and her son who suffers from some disability, attended and participated in church activities, while Liz waited for the issue with her husband ‘s opposition to settle peacefully. She did not want there to be a family breakdown.
The weekend of the baptism earlier in May, Liz’s husband who was working in Alice Springs, called the day after the baptism,.
“Why were you not baptised on Sabbath? I saw people were baptised!”
“Me and my son are just waiting for your permission for our baptism,” she replied.
“From now on,” he said, “I will give you green light to be baptised and I will inform your pastor immediately after we finish talking to go ahead and organise your baptism for as soon as possible!”
Gatkuoth Chol, who pastors the Sudanese church family, confirms that as soon as he got off the phone to Liz, her husband called him, telling him to organise the baptism for his wife and son.
Liz was filled with such happiness as she had never experienced before. She was so excited. But the very next day, she was involved in a car accident, totally writing off her car, although escaping unscathed.
The baptism was scheduled for the 22nd, and Liz’s husband flew to Melbourne the Thursday before so he could be there with her and their son. However the devil had other plans. In the early hours of Sabbath morning, Liz had to take her husband to hospital. The doctors wanted to admit him for observation, but he was adamant.
“I came for a very important mission that I wouldn’t miss.” And so he was discharged just a short time before the baptism was scheduled to begin.
As Liz came out of the water, he was there hugging her and giving her flowers, tears of joy in his eyes.
“I have no problem for anyone from my family to join Adventism,” he announced.
Liz’s husband returned to Alice Springs the next day, and has had no recurrence of his symptoms. And just last weekend, Liz contacted Gatkuoth, telling him the eldest daughter, who is a mother herself, is keen to join a baptismal class.
How great is the power of God’s Holy Spirit in the lives of His people!
Gatkuoth Chol with IntraVic
