PINKY’S BAPTISM

As we leave the facility, Jerrie gets high fives from the residents, nurses, and cnas, because Pinky (aka Jerrie) is getting baptized! As the bible shares in 2Cortithians 5:17 “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! This is the story of Jerrie and Jesus. I met her while working at our facility. She is part of those I nicknamed “ the coffee clubbers”. Her background was rough, having been involved in drugs, homelessness, mental health issues, and other activities that brought her to rock bottom. After several months talking with her and some of the other residents, she asked if she could become a Christian. We started a weekly bible study with the assistance of interns through CCV ( Christs Church of the Valley ). And then she asked to be b baptized! Her family, Makela and Mable, and even our driver Pedro were all there to celebrate with her. Although she is in a wheelchair, CCV’s pastors and my hubby, helped her into the water for this momentous event. Now, this sounds like a nice little story, doesn’t it? Let me share WHY this is big, really big. It was early in the morning when I came in. Pinky was there waiting for me. She was contemplating suicide. And this wasn’t the first time. I prayed over her and got Mable to come down and pray over her too. We never stopped praying for her. Although professional help was called, the loss of living was still there. She had been locked up for a week in her room. And then Jesus met her there…in the dark…in the lonely place…in the place of utter hopelessness. As pastor Chuck Smith wife said in the movie “Jesus Revolution”, lies are very loud, where truth is quiet”. Jerrie was believing she was worthless as a mother because of the actions of her past. She could only hear that the best she could do to escape this life of shame, was killing herself. But Jesus came to her, and in this moment, through the washing away of her sins and her past, she came out of the water a new creature in Christ. She now has life, true life, and a purpose to live. I didn’t cry until now. Do you know how utterly amazing that is? Are you that person? The one whose past is too shameful, too hopeless, to be changed? Without Jesus that would be a true statement. But I have SEEN the transformation of Jerrie’s life and I can only attribute it to the love and saving grace of Jesus. But we all know life isn’t easy just because you are a Christian. Like all of us, she will fail to be perfect. The difference is she isn’t alone…Jesus and Jerrie will always be together…until the end. Like Jerrie, you too can have a new beginning, with hope and purpose. Call to Jesus right now and ask him. Today was an AMAZING day and I praise Jesus for it. Amen and amen!