Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: River (08/31/06)
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TITLE: The Baptism At Lester Richey's Farm | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sharlyn Guthrie
09/06/06 -
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Carl was a warlock there, in Iowa’s heartland.
Both of them found Jesus and vowed to take a stand.
They wanted to be baptized and follow Christ’s command.
At the farm of Lester Richey, just past McGuire Bend,
come down to the river. Bring your neighbors and your friends.
We’ll be shouting “Hallelujah!” and the joy will never end
as our brothers there are buried, then raised to life again.
Jill’s daddy was the mayor of our tiny little town.
Delaney went to homecoming and came home with the crown.
They gave their lives to Jesus along with Polly Brown,
and they’ll wade into the river to lay their egos down.
At the farm of Lester Richey, just past McGuire Bend,
come down to the river. Bring your neighbors and your friends.
We’ll be shouting “Hallelujah!” and the joy will never end,
as our sisters die to self, and are raised to life again.
Ricky went to school but he didn’t really care.
Johnny sat behind him and blew spitballs in his hair.
Kevin was so stoned he had an empty, haunting stare.
They all have been redeemed, so on Sunday, they’ll be there.
At the farm of Lester Richey, just past McGuire Bend,
come down to the river. Bring your neighbors and your friends.
We’ll be shouting “Hallelujah!” and the joy will never end.
These lives have been transformed, though it’s hard to comprehend.
Oh, we gathered at the river on that thirteenth day of June.
We listened to some preaching ‘til it was almost noon.
We sang “Amazing Grace” while Andy strummed the tune.
Twenty-six were baptized. It ended way too soon.
As I watched, mesmerized on that farmer’s sacred shore
God’s Spirit seared the memory on my heart forevermore…
Waist-high in the water and ankle-deep in mud
they told how Jesus cleansed them with His life-giving blood;
then as the preacher lowered each saint beneath the flood,
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were entreat-ed.
At the farm of Lester Richey, just past McGuire Bend,
We came down to the river, brought our neighbors and our friends.
We shouted “Hallelujah!” and the joy will never end.
God made us all one body, a holy, perfect blend.
Whenever folks are baptized I drift back to that morn,
surrounded by the soybeans and endless rows of corn.
Our hearts to God were yielded, and allegiances were sworn,
to follow Christ and live –as one who’s been reborn.
At the farm of Lester Richey, just past McGuire Bend,
we came down to the river, brought our neighbors and our friends.
We shouted “Hallelujah!” and the joy will never end.
My doubting soul was buried, then raised to life again.
Now I’ve recited liturgies and prayed the hallowed prayer.
I’ve been to a tent meeting out in the open air.
I’ve visited cathedrals, but nothing can compare
to that gathering by the river and the Spirit’s presence there.
At the farm of Lester Richey, just past McGuire Bend,
we came down to the river, brought our neighbors and our friends.
We shouted “Hallelujah!” and the joy will never end.
It was there that many died, and were raised to life again.
This poem is based on an actual baptism that took place near Stratford, Iowa on June 13, 1971. God moved mightily through Carl and Andy after bringing them both to salvation. The Bible studies they began drew hundreds of teenagers from several nearby communities.
Those of us who already knew the Lord experienced amazement, humility, and great joy as friends and classmates came to know him, too. The baptism at Lester Richey’s farm was only the first of several such baptisms.
Carl is now a missionary. Andy is an elder of the church that began as a result of that summer’s events. God continues to work through a number of others who believed and then were baptized in the river near Stratford, Iowa in 1971.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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