The Baptism

MEMOIR The Baptism_________________________ Mary Jane Adams OUR SMALL CHURCH IS SITUATED on Cutshin Creek in Leslie County, Kentucky. Like many of the small mountain churches in the Eastern Kentucky Mountains, there is no baptistery in our church. If the weather is very cold, we can "borrow" one in a nearby church, but we like the beauty and custom of using the near-by creek for our baptismal services. There's not a time when we go down to the bank of Cutshin Creek for a baptism that I don't think of an incident that happened years ago. We had a visiting Southern Baptist student minister preach at our church for about a week. At the end of this revival time, he scheduled a baptism for the following Sunday. Sunday arrived. Pastor Jim preached a stirring message during the morning service, and then we all headed for the creek. It was a beautiful summer day. A group of young people from a church up north had been working in the creek that week. They had been doing work for The Mission and had pitched rocks around to get the hole deep enough for the baptism. This group had done a greatjob, because they enjoyed being in the water. Cutshin Creek provided a good place to swim and play, plus the fact that showers were scarce. To reach the "hole" where we baptize, you must go up the church driveway, through the clinic yard, and travel down a pretty steep bank to Cutshin Creek. There is a sort of beach area down there with lots of grass and pebbles, so there is plenty of room for a large group to stand and view the baptism. The opposite side of the creek is high and steep, with rhododendron, mountain laurel, and trees growing thickly on its rocky cliff. The sound of birds and water flowing over and around the boulders make this a perfect spot for an old fashioned baptism. On this particular day, as I remember, there was only one person being baptized. Carrie was in her teens, a beautiful blond. Someone had pinned her dress together between her legs so it wouldn't float up in the water. Her hair was pulled back and hung in one long braid down her back. She made a pretty picture as she came down the bank with her mother. After everyone got quiet, the congregation sang "What Can Wash Away My Sins?" and "Amazing Grace." Pastor Jim and Carrie waded slowly into the cold water. The pastor walked very carefully as he had gotten an ingrown toenail removed that week. His toe was very sore, and it was allbandaged up for protection and was supported by an old tennis shoe with the toe cut out. Reaching the deepest part, the Pastor said the appropriate words and dipped her under. Everything had gone very well until Carrie moved away from the preacher and began making her way to the shore. Suddenly, she heard a big thrashing sound behind her. The preacher had stubbed his toe on some rocks, fallen backwards, and was not able to get to his feet in the deep water. Carrie simply turned around and went back to help him. She grabbed hold of him, pulled him to his feet, and still supporting him, led him out of the water. As you can imagine, the congregation was in a fit of laughter by this time. Some of the members waded out to assist the arrival of the dripping forms, who were then wrapped in towels and blankets. Pastor Jim and Carrie were hugged, kissed, patted, and cried over. Then everyone headed back to the parking lot. We will long remember Granny Adams's words as we helped her up that steep bank, "Well, youngins, he might have baptized her, but she shore saved him." Ron Rash and Reneé Critcher ...