Thursday, November 02, 2006

Family Heritage


My Great Maternal Grandparents, John Thomas and Belle Dempsey with daughter Nannie. JT was a well known Pastor and Church Planter in southern Illinois. I am thankful for my heritage and roots.
In 1894, two great events occurred in the lives of John and Belle. I do not know their order but I know something about their significance. John and Bell had been trying to have children but were running into trouble. They were able to conceive but in several instances, the babies were born dead or died soon after birth. This was a great disaster for them because they wanted to pass on their heritage of a strong Christian faith to future generations.
As you can see from the accompany photo, one child did live and she was a real blessing. Her name was Nancy Ann Dempsey and grew up to be a bright, beautiful and spiritual woman who was also my grandmother. Nannie was born in 1894.
JT and Belle were adult converts to Christ who were nurtured in their faith at Union Baptist Church located out in the country between Whittington and Ewing Illinois. They hungered for more of God and that desire drew them to attend a Wesleyan Camp Meeting during the summer of 1894. During the Camp Meeting, this young couple heard about the "Second Blessing of Grace" called, "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit for Completer Sanctification". They wanted and needed a boost from the Holy Spirit for Holiness so they went forward in the meeting to receive prayer and the baptism.
This led them and several others to request a meeting with the Pastor of Union Baptist to tell him their good news and ask that the teach this new doctrine. Needless to say, he resisted and the entire group left the Union to found New Hope Baptist Church. In 1896 that church was dedicated and continues to minister in His bane 110 years later.
This is a major part of my history and I continue to push the envelope of spiritual innovation just as my Great Grandparents did so long ago.

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