Tag: baptism

On The Mission Field

As the plane taxied on the tarmac at Port-Au-Prince, I sensed deeply once again that God had a purpose in bringing me here.  The days ahead will change my life forever. I will see God at work in special ways that will never to be forgotten. The anticipation of the challenge that lay ahead in the poorest country in the western hemisphere would require complete dependence upon God.  There was comfort in knowing that I was being prayed for by family and friends. Each was concerned about my safety and that God would use me to minister in upholding the Light of Christ.

As I exited the plane, the heat of the March Haitian breeze carried the stench that permeated the air. All the signs and sounds brought a quick reality that I was not at home.  I had arrived in a very different place. It was quite astonishing to see that only one and one-half hours from Miami people were living in such deplorable conditions. Every turn of my head I saw buildings without roofs, garbage in the streets, and open sewers along walkways.

Traveling with two veteran missionaries and a team of five other ministers, the goal of our trip was to preach at the churches in the area of Gonaives along the northern coast.  One of the missionaries had been the first Christian Church missionary to establish a mission foothold in Haiti in 1972.  Since that time many churches had been established and several orphanages started throughout this economically underdeveloped country. The political unrest, the lawlessness, the gang activity, and the prevailing Voodoo religion all contributed to an indigenous culture that is affected by a myriad of circumstances and heart wrenching history.

It was my assignment and privilege to preach at the Yon Christian Church for the entire time, 10 days, that I was in Haiti.  Visiting in the small huts of the people each day as I walked the dirt roads of the Yon village was an unforgettable experience that I will treasure and ponder in my heart always.   Throngs of people, young and old, did not know Christ.  Some, who in the past were faithful to Christ, were exhibiting extreme emotional trauma relating to their personal losses caused by Hurricane Jeanne.  Everyone in the village and the surrounding area refers to the incident as the “Gen-Flud”, likening it to the great flood of Noah’s day.  Large open fields on three sides of the Yon Christian Church were still bare lacking any vegetation. The plots of ground surrounding the Church had become a vast acreage of mass graves for the entire area.  The men had trenched these fields by hand to bury the people and animals that had drowned in the “Gen-Flud”.  The need for quick burial demanded that they be buried together in common graves. Even the walls inside the church building itself bore the stains of the water level seven feet from the floor.

     Because I was unable to speak French or Creole, ” Joseph”, became my constant companion and interpreter in the work of the Lord. A young man who had grown up in the orphanage established years before and trained as a minister of the Gospel, Joseph now had a family of his own and preached in a large Christian Church in Gonaives. 

A few months before my arrival in Haiti, immediately following the “Gen-Flud”, an American friend came to check on Joseph and the church where he was preaching. As soon as the American left, several gang members came to the Gonaives church and demanded that he turn over everything the American had brought. He carefully explained that the American had not brought anything, but had come only to visit. The violent gang members did not believe him and they began to hold him down and beat him. After throwing him to the ground they all began to kick him, demanding that they be given the money that the American had brought. One of the gang members held a gun to Joseph’s head while another gang member fired a second weapon inside the church building. During the entire time of his beating, his family was in the Church building. The gang members finally gave up after saying, “We will return tomorrow and if the money is not waiting for us at the door of the church we will kill you!”

      In the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness, Joseph took his wife and children to a safe place in the country.  Three days later he returned to the church where the members informed him that the gang had come back every night looking for him.  He stayed at the Church alone praying that entire night.  The gang members never returned again.  By the time our missions team arrived he continued to live in the church building and his entire family had returned to stay with him.

It was difficult for him to tell the story, and as emotion filled his eyes, he said, “I so want to take you to my church to preach, Brother Paul, but it is unsafe. You would be safe, but they would beat me again if they saw an American in my church. When it is safe for both of us, please come to Haiti again and preach to our congregation”. Here, standing before me, was a dedicated servant of God – one who had withstood the hardship of near martyrdom and remained faithful to God and the congregation he continues to serve. In the poorest country in this part of our world stands a faithful preacher who shines as a light in his own dark corner of the globe.

Because of the unstable conditions in the area, and because of my need for help with the language, Joseph worked closely with me every day. Saul, the minister of the Church in Yon, could not speak English but knew his congregation intimately and was highly respected by the people of the village. We were quite a sight to be sure, two native Haitians and an American, brothers in Christ and friends in the Gospel, making our way through the rutted streets, and stopping at every home to invite people to the revival services. A group of children followed behind us as we became a colorful entourage and a noisy one at that. The children that followed where signing as they joined us. You could tell that someone had birthed within the hearts of each child the excitement to sing such wonderful praise toGod. To this day whenever I make a ministry call in a home there is an abiding presence with me that I am not alone. Christ walks with me, His Holy Spirit guides me and I am surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses…the little children singing about the Savior they love.

     On another day, I accompanied a fellow preacher from Kentucky.  At each home we stopped to ask if we could enter their gate. At one of these gates, standing before us was a young mother and a completely naked, three year old boy.  The mother was a very gracious hostess and promised that she would attend the service at the church that night.  We shook their hands and made our way down the street to the next home.  When we were already three doors away the mother with the 3 year old boy called us back.   To my surprise the little boy, though still naked, held a shirt in his left hand and a pair of pants in his right hand.  The mother told us, “He wants to go with you!” This mother was willing to send her little boy with a stranger if it meant a better life for him. My heart broke as the interpreter explained that it would not be possible.  When his mother told the small boy that he could not go, he dropped his hands and began to cry.  I could not hold back my inward emotion after seeing and hearing what we had just witnessed.  What kind of life is that little boy to have in such a place as this?  What is the future for him?  It was a lesson of humility. It is only God that can accomplish great things in lives of people. We are to be a voice calling in the wildness. “Behold The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

     The strength of the Gospel is the same in any language and in any place.  So, also, the stench of sin is the same, whether it comes from the voodoo gods and gang members of a devastated society, or from the white-collar crime and social injustices of the “civilized”.  In this world, regardless of where we are, we are on “the mission field.”  As Paul proclaimed, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  The gospel reveals the clear eternal righteousness of God, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written:  “The righteous will live by faith.”

     Carved on the pulpit of the Yon Christian Church are the words, “Christ Is Our Hope”.  Those who have lost everything in the flood waters, those who are beaten, those who long for a new home, all may find eternal hope in Christ. During the week it was my privilege to baptize 11 people who had responded to the invitation of Christ. One by one each confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. When we stepped into the water together, each was immersed for the remission of sins. Now they belong to Jesus! The world still cries out, “Who will GO?” “Here I am send me!”

Paul Sisson

A Struggle For Truth

It was quite a surprise when David entered my office.  Serving as the senior minister of a large church in a rural community brings you in touch with many lives on a daily basis.  This, however, was a visit that I will never forget. 

David was the minister of the oldest Presbyterian Church in the state of Oklahoma when he entered my office with a question.  I was well aware of the Church that he served and its’s historical influence on our entire community.  Rural communities have a real sense of what it means to be a neighbor.  As soon as I saw David my mind briefly paused out of respect before I said, “Good Morning David” and invited him to sit down.  Here two preachers, one from the Presbyterian Church and one from the Christian Church sat down together.  I had no idea what was to transpire from that meeting over the next few weeks.  Looking back now, from the memories of ministry it was like God telling Moses,“Take off your shoes for the place where you are standing on is Holy Ground.”  What had historically taken on the name, “No Man’s Land”, was to eventually be known as the, “Panhandle of Oklahoma” but was at this moment, “Holy Ground” for me.

The Presbyterian Church building was very small and had been well taken care of by loving generations of members through the years. Outside the Church stands a sign designating the building as a historical site of Oklahoma.  Years before Oklahoma received it’s statehood worshippers gathered in this small building.  The Presbyterian Church of Beaver, Oklahoma, was never large from any attendance standpoint but the entire community regarded it as a part of its identity and history.  What a legacy for any congregation!

David had been serving in Presbyterian Churches for over 20 years when he came to my office.  My surprise was not in seeing David, but the seriousness in which he approached me.  Immediately he asked, “Paul, I have been struggling with an issue and I would like to ask you how you feel about it”.   I reassured David and invited him to ask me anything that he wanted.  He began by telling me about the debate going on in the Presbyterian Church over the issue to ordain homosexuals into the ministry.   As he talked I could see that this was sincerely a difficult struggle raging in his heart. His commitment to ministry and application of many years of study and experience as a Presbyterian minister wrestled within him.

Together we searched the Scripture, studying the passages where God clearly states that homosexuality is sin.  Tears came to David’s eyes for he already knew what God’s word said on this subject.  “I agree with what the Bible says.” David remarked.  “This should not even be a debatable subject.  I just cannot understand the desire to want to ordain homosexuals into the ministry.”  David talked for a long time and I sat and listened.  We turned to other passages of scripture on the subject and read them together.   Our discussion concluded in prayer and a commitment to continue to pray for each other.

As David got up from his chair I asked him, “Do you like to read for relaxation?” “I have a book about a Presbyterian minister that you might like to read.”  From my bookshelf I gave him my copy of Louis Cochran’s book, “The Fool of God”, a novel based on the life of Alexander Campbell.  David thanked me and gladly took the book.

Four days later he returned to my office with the book in hand and told me, “You know, I have a lot in common with Alexander Campbell.”   David sat down and we talked in great detail about the life of Alexander Campbell and the struggles that he faced as a Presbyterian minister.   We talked briefly on some of the basic principles of the Restoration Movement.  He had never heard the term before.

Then to my astonishment David asked, “Paul will you study the subject of baptism with me?”  Out of the blue the question was asked and stunned my train of thought.  I suggested that we meet for an hour on Tuesday mornings for the following six weeks.   David was extremely faithful in keeping these appointments and always came prepared.  His hand written notes and prepared questions telegraphed his desire to learn more of the Word of God.  Much study time was spent on the purpose and mode of baptism.  During the final study session, David asked a question that I will remember for the rest of my life, “Will you immerse me into Christ for the remission of my sins?”  I agreed to baptize David and told him we could go to the baptistry right then.  He further astonished me by saying, “I want to do it Friday because I want the leadership from the Presbyterian Church to attend.   I also want you to prepare a message on the meaning of Acts 2:38 and Romans 6 and preach at my baptismal service.”   I was moved by his sincerity and together we set the time for Friday. He also approved of me inviting the elders of First Christian Church and their families

When the appointed time on Friday came, David entered the sanctuary of the Christian Church accompanied by several families of the Presbyterian Church.  The Elders of the Christian Church were already seated.   David handed me a bulletin that he had carefully prepared showing the order of service.  He handed a copy to everyone present.   He read two passages of scripture and then asked me to preach on the meaning and importance of baptism.  We then went to the baptistry and I asked, “David, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?” He answered with authority, “I do!”  “I now baptize you in the name of the Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins and God will give to you the gift of the Holy Spirit”.  I lowered him into the water and lifted him up to walk in newness of life.  Unspeakable joy floods the face of every new Christian who comes up out of the water.  For David it was no different.  He was now a Christian.  His sins were forgiven.  He was raised to walk in newness of life.  David was greeted and embraced by his Presbyterian leaders and the elders of First Christian Church.  

Some people say that there is no place for the Restoration Movement in the 21st century, that there is no purpose in espousing the ideals of past generations based upon Biblical principals.   In truth we must never forget the power of the Word of God and the simple Gospel message that transforms lives no matter what our background.  People today are searching for truth and trying to find it based upon their feelings, wants, and personal desires.  When you open your heart to the truth of God, there you will find the meaning and purpose for your life.  

It was not long after David’s baptism that a young family wanted their baby baptized at the Presbyterian Church.  David told them that in good conscience he could not baptize a baby because the Bible does not teach us to baptize infants.   In the next several months that followed David resigned from the Presbyterian Church and moved to Kansas where he continued to preach from time to time and worked on a family farm.  He never doubted his decision to be baptized or to serve the Lord with his life.   Recently, upon hearing of David’s death, a tear ran down my face as I remembered the day he gave his life to Christ in baptism.  My brother in Christ, who thought more about his commitment to the Word than the divisive battles being waged by a denomination, made a lasting impression on me and renewed my commitment to the validity of the Restoration Movement in this generation.

Paul D. Sisson