Obedience is better than sacrifice

For 10 years, I worked as the director of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministries’ Steadfast House for women in west Asheville. The residence served as a transitional support for ladies leaving the Swannanoa Correctional Center.

I also provided backup for the chaplin at the prison and lead Bible studies in her absence.

During the summer, I volunteered to transport inmates to Sunday services at my home church. In the winter, I ministered at the homeless shelter on Sunday evenings.

One day, my son Larry Bill jokingly said, “Momma, when we were growing up we worried you to death – and now you’re worrying us to death.”

On Sunday, Jan. 14, 1995, in the tiny chapel at the shelter on Cox Avenue, I shared the Word of God from my heart about the power which had transformed my life. My friend Brenda played the guitar and sang.

That evening, four souls made professions of faith.

Knowing their sincerity and knowing their lives were in a state of transition, I offered to have them baptized. I agreed to pick them up the next day, not realizing that it was Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday.

The following morning we tried for hours to reach multiple pastors – but due the holiday, no one answered. My home church didn’t have a baptistery and it seemed we were out of options.

As I paced and worried and prepared lunch for the new believers, discouragement began to set in.

At that moment, a vision of our large, claw-foot bath tub came to mind. Knowing that visitors weren’t allowed upstairs, I said, “Oh no. No Lord. I can’t do that!”

He replied, “Can any man forbid water?” (Acts 10:47).

After Brenda sang and the music played, I lifted my hand to heaven and prayed, “Father in obedience to your command and upon the authority of your word, I baptize this my brother and this my sister in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”

Closing the service, I counseled them to live in the newness of life.

Every year on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, I think of and pray for those four souls and like Dr. King, I understand that sometimes you have to break a few rules to obey the Lord’s command.

Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Maeburl Tincher writes a monthly column for The Graham Star. She is a lifelong resident of the Jack Branch community.