WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY -- Special Baptisms

This saying brought to mind several special baptisms I have had, one in the U. S. and several on the mission field/Mexico.
     While pastoring in Colorado several years ago I was invited to preach a revival in the Wyoming State Prison, one of the oldest in the nation.  During that time a man in his 50s that had been in and out of jail since he was 14 and was sentenced to life, received Christ as his personal Savior.  A year later I returned there to preach another revival and noticed how the old man had grown in grace.  He began begging me to baptize him.  I did have the authority of our church but, what about permission?  It took a while but I finally got the permission of the warden IF I could find a way since we only baptize by immersion.  Finally we found a way -- he was baptized in the mechanic shop in the vat where they tested radiators y repaired tires.  Where there's a will there's a way.
     Some years later in Mexico there was a young man converted to Christ in the mountains.  The area had seen a long, dry summer and there was little water to be found.  But, where there's a will there's a way.  The young man took a shovel and went to a small stream and dug a large hole which finally filled up from the trickle of water.  He sat down in the hole, the Mexican pastor knelt beside him and he was baptized.  Many of our Mexican churches do not have baptistries.
     At another time, one of our new missions had a number of new believers ready for baptism also.  Again, how to accomplish this Bible commandment?  A man brought a large plastic kiddie pool and filled it with water.  Again the converts had to sit down in the water with the pastor kneeling and baptizing them.  Where there's a will there's a way.
     And just recently there was a special baptism that we could certainly call, making your public profession of faith.  There were four ready to be baptized.  That particular church usually baptizes in the ocean.  However, there was an unusually high surf which made it unwise to use the ocean.
     The pastor went to the municipal outdoor swimming pool and got permission for a baptismal service in the pool.  It was granted because the man in charge is a BELIEVER and said he had never seen that happen there but was for it.  Our climate is such that the pool stays open all year for the brave ones. The congregation and baptismal candidates arrived at the pool.  The man asked ALL the swimmers to leave the pool for the moment.  While the congregation was singing the two young men, two young ladies and the Mexican pastor entered the pool.  There was an applaus when each one was baptized!  What a testimony for Christ in a catholic country!  REMEMBER, Where there's a will there's a way!