Page 87 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

Baptism in the Name
ference at Shone, in Kambata District. At the same time, the elders of five S.I.M. churches in Gacheno Village had gathered to seek God. They felt inadequate to lead the churches under their care and were dissatisfied with their Christian experience. While they fasted and prayed throughout the night, one made a plea to the Lord, while the others agreed, "Send us a leader. Lord. Send us one to teach us and lead us in the right way. We need an anointed preacher tomorrow. If You do not answer by tomorrow morning, we are ready to give up. If You real ly hear and answer prayer, send him in the morning."
That same night, God directed Tekle and Erkenesh not to go to the conference, but to go to Gacheno early the next morning, where men were fasting and praying.
While the elders were still praying, Tekle and Erkenesh approached the church. The elders ran out to meet them joyfully, praising the Lord that He really does answer prayer. So began a mutually beneficial affinity; Tekle ministered to the churches, a Holy Ghost revival quickened them from the pulpit to the pew, and they blessed their leaders with material benefits.
Before going to Wollayta, Tekle tried to force Erkenesh to read the booklet on baptism in the name of Jesus, but she consistently refused. At Wollayta, Erken esh continued to resist the message on baptism, and she became seriously ill. In spite of many prayers she did not improve. Before Tekle went to the market for a service, he lay the booklet on the table by her bed.
In between feverish tossing and turning, she picked it up, glanced at the title. Baptism in Jesus' Name, and put it back on the table without opening it. She felt the Lord telling her. Whatever bears My name is all good.
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