Friday, August 9, 2024

Long Creek Baptism Hole

My Grandfather attended this church in 1940. He was saved and baptized in Long Creek near the church.  The event is recorded.

July, 1940 in Green Forest, Arkansas, a revival meeting was in progress at the Denver Baptist Church, conducted by the pastor, Gus Poole. Elisha Houston Gaddy grandson of George E. Gaddy, who was one of the charter members of Salem Church, was saved on Sunday afternoon August 4, 1940. Members of the Denver Church, also of Burlington, Arkansas Church, and neighbors and visitors of the community gathered at the water's edge of Long Creek in Denver, Arkansas for a baptismal service. There was a large crowd, most of them coming in cars, and some by truck load. There was a service held at the water's edge and the congregation sang 'Glory To His Name' and 'At the Cross'. Rev. Gus Poole read the scripture, reading Matthew 28, beginning with the 18th verse and reading the remaining three verses. After prayer, the candidates, with the two pastors, L. C. Tilley of the Burlington, Arkansas Church, and Gus Poole of the Denver Church, moved out into the water while the congregation sang 'On Jordan's Stromy Banks I Stand.' Rev. Gus Poole Buried Houston Gaddy in the water of old Long Creek, symbolizing the burial and resurrection fo Our Lord Jesus Christ. The two candidates from the Burlington Church were immersed by their pastor.


 

2 comments:

Far Side of Fifty said...

What a great bit of family history!

Donna. W said...

I love this! My dad said they had to break some thin ice on the creek when he was baptized.