By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Solange Parker was beaming with excitement as she entered the baptistery at Calvary Baptist Church, Nov. 10.
With neighbor Justin Langford and personal primary care doctor David Guillot gathered beside her, the 89-year-old fulfilled a 50-year dream of stirring the baptistery waters.
“It was amazing, exciting and very important to my faith,” Parker told the Baptist Message. “I was filled with joy knowing I could get the order of my baptism right after all these years.”
Though Parker turned to Christ many years ago, she never followed through with a public declaration of her faith through baptism.
But because of a long-term friendship built with Langford and Guillot, the exposure to ongoing baptisms at Calvary and a message on the importance of baptism by Pastor Todd Strain, Parker finally took that next step in her faith.
“I knew it was a long time coming from the conversations we have had,” said Langford, also a professor of Christian studies at Louisiana Christian University. “After the service, when Todd preached about baptism, she looked at me and said, ‘Let’s make this happen.’”
After several more months of delays because of health concerns, the big day finally arrived for Parker.
“She may not be able to walk as good as she used to, but Solange is a very determined person, and when she wants to do something, she will do it,” Langford said. “It was a struggle, but she walked up those steps and as soon as she hit the water she exclaimed, ‘Praise God.’ It’s a reminder to all of us that you’re never too old to get baptized.”
