Ruth Starkey stood in her grandson-in-law’s swimming pool, surrounded by family and neighbors. At 93, she was about to make a public declaration of faith.
The journey began two years ago when the Nida family from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Hixson, Tennessee, started building a relationship with their neighbors, the Copps, hoping to share their faith.
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“A year and a half ago, the Copps’ youngest son, a fourth-grader, was the first to attend anything at the church — he came to Vacation Bible School,” pastor Brady Wood told the Baptist and Reflector.
“During that week, Carson surrendered his life to Jesus.”
At week’s end, Wood met with all six family members, and each person trusted in Christ for salvation. A few weeks later, the family was baptized.
But one more person living in the Copp household needed to hear the gospel: Starkey, who had moved from Corning, New York, to live with her granddaughter Allison’s family.
Persistence
For nearly a year, Nate Copp shared the hope of Jesus with his wife’s grandmother. A few weeks ago, he told Wood that Starkey had given her life to Christ.
“I told Nate that if she will be baptized, I will come to your house and baptize her in your pool,” Wood recalled.
Less than a week later, Starkey stepped into the water as family and friends gathered poolside and neighbors watched from their balconies.
“She publicly declared through believer’s baptism that she is a child of God and unashamed of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Wood said.
“I pray this will encourage others,” he added.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
