The Bible gives a number of reasons to be baptized:

• We “put on Christ” when we are baptized (Galatians 3:27)
• Tying repentance and baptism together provides forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
•  It is like a new birth and a new beginning for us (Romans 6:7)
• Baptism is not an outward cleaning, but saves us through an inward cleaning (1 Peter 3:21)

The first time Christopher Morris was baptized; he was young and did it to impress a girl.

Years later, and facing Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer,  Morris decided his second baptism needed to be about something deeper.  He needed to do it for himself.  He called upon friend Aaron Huddleston, and Pastor Ian Jones of the Seymore Church of Christ and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs to help his baptism become a reality.

 

 

The hospital is new to the Catholic, faith-based family that is CHRISTUS Health.  Over the summer, CHRISTUS finalized an agreement for the ongoing management and operation of the hospital. The CHRISTUS Mission statement is “To extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”

Because of this mission, hospital leadership gave the green light and Morris became the first person to be baptized in the hospital’s Healthplex wellness and rehabilitation pool.

The occasion was special.  Wheelchair bound, Morris was helped into the pool.  CHRISTUS Associates and managers stopped by to witness the event and to clap and cheer when the baptism was complete.

So, while the hospital has many award winning specialties, one of the more special services offered, especially on this day, was letting Morris and others openly experience God’s love and healing presence.

“At our hospital, we believe in Christ centered patient care.  That means we attend to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of every patient we serve,” said Paul Harvey,  CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs President.  “Hosting a baptism for Mr. Morris was acknowledging his dignity and his humanity.  He wanted to experience God’s love.  We were so proud to be part of his experience.”