A dying man gets baptized, in a full-body immersion, as his last and final wish here on earth. His testimony blessed many souls who participated in the activity.
Tommy Dale Reid’s Sickness
Tommy Dale Reid, then 67-year-old, retired months before he became sick. He thought it was pneumonia. Sadly, it was more than that. He had lung, liver, and pancreas cancer.
When he knew that it wasn’t pneumonia, he acknowledged that he needed a miracle healing, badly.
But he wasn’t a new believer. He went to church for many years and on a regular basis but didn’t receive Jesus as his LORD and Savior. He also wasn’t baptized.
His pastor, Tom Box, said, “He had just never been baptized. He had never accepted Christ as his personal savior.”
Tommy was a faithful husband and a faithful worker. He grew up in Wichita Falls and earned a Computer Science degree at Vernon Regional College. He then served in the Army for many years.
Tommy met Marion Rohleder, his wife, in Germany while serving in the Army, and they soon became engaged. After getting married, they quickly relocated to Burkburnett, where he stayed until his passing.
Photo Courtesy: Website | Owens and Brumley
Dying Man Gets Baptized
His diagnosis served as a wake-up call, and after he checked into the Hospice of Wichita Falls, Tommy expressed his desire to be baptized as his final wish.
Tom Box shared, “We practice immersion. No sprinkling or pouring. We believe you are devoting your entire self, not just your head or your hands, to Jesus Christ. So you’re completely immersed.”
Many things need to be prepared. But thankfully though, the staff at Hospice was eager to make Tommy’s wish come true. So, they came up with a plan to do the full-immersion baptism in the garden of the Hospice center.
The communication director at Hospice of Wichita Falls, Angela Culley, shared, “The emotional connection the nurses, the staff, the volunteers have with the patients that cannot be taught. Hospice is definitely a special environment.”
As you can see in the video below, Tommy was required to hold his breath while having his oxygen tube withdrawn, but he did so eagerly since it was his last wish to be baptized.
Tommy accepted Jesus as his personal savior! And now, he is with God in heaven and having the best time of his eternal life.
Reference: Faith It
