Greg and I have been blessed by the presence of Bishop Wesley Russ who has been in our home since before Melvine's memorial service.
Wesley has been my friend since 1964.
When we moved to Stone Mountain and the Atlanta area, Wesley was our pastor at the Church of the Comforter in Tucker. It was during this time that Melvine led Stephanie to Jesus. After church one night, we came home and Stephanie told her mother, Melvine, "I don't think I am a Christian." Melvine responded by saying, "Would you like to be a Christian?" Then, Melvine explained the Gospel to her in terms she could understand as a six-year-old little girl. Melvine and Stephanie knelt on their knees at Stephanie's bed and they prayed the sinner's prayer. That was the night Stephanie's sins were forgiven, she was regenerated, justified, adopted into the family of God, and initially sanctified as her sins were washed away and her heart cleansed of sin.
Greg had gotten saved, born again, at the River Springs Camp Grounds near McKenzie, AL. That was when they had wood shavings for the floor covering. Retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) Freeman Mashburn was the camp meeting preacher. On his own, Greg walked down the aisle to the altar rail at the invitation Freeman had given. Betty Spence of Mobile, Alabama walked to join Greg at the altar and prayed for him to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Greg was 8 years old.
So, Pastor Wesley Russ baptized Greg and Stephanie at a nearby Baptist Church called Brockett Hill Baptist Church that had a baptistry. Wesley and this Baptist pastor were good friends, and he gave Wesley authority/permission to use the church and the baptistry to baptize our children.
For Greg and Stephanie Wesley Russ has always been called pastor Russ.
Wesley has been my friend since 1964.
When we moved to Stone Mountain and the Atlanta area, Wesley was our pastor at the Church of the Comforter in Tucker. It was during this time that Melvine led Stephanie to Jesus. After church one night, we came home and Stephanie told her mother, Melvine, "I don't think I am a Christian." Melvine responded by saying, "Would you like to be a Christian?" Then, Melvine explained the Gospel to her in terms she could understand as a six-year-old little girl. Melvine and Stephanie knelt on their knees at Stephanie's bed and they prayed the sinner's prayer. That was the night Stephanie's sins were forgiven, she was regenerated, justified, adopted into the family of God, and initially sanctified as her sins were washed away and her heart cleansed of sin.
Greg had gotten saved, born again, at the River Springs Camp Grounds near McKenzie, AL. That was when they had wood shavings for the floor covering. Retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) Freeman Mashburn was the camp meeting preacher. On his own, Greg walked down the aisle to the altar rail at the invitation Freeman had given. Betty Spence of Mobile, Alabama walked to join Greg at the altar and prayed for him to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Greg was 8 years old.
So, Pastor Wesley Russ baptized Greg and Stephanie at a nearby Baptist Church called Brockett Hill Baptist Church that had a baptistry. Wesley and this Baptist pastor were good friends, and he gave Wesley authority/permission to use the church and the baptistry to baptize our children.
For Greg and Stephanie Wesley Russ has always been called pastor Russ.