Wisconsin

On Sabbath, June 30, there must have been much joy in Heaven, and Superior Seventh-day Adventist Church members felt the same joy! Dale Hunter and Alice Hunter, and their son, Johnny Hunter, were baptized as their relatives and new church family surrounded them and watched the ceremony held at a public swimming pool.

The Hunters' journey is a real miracle. About six months ago, Renee Kinler, a member of the Superior Church, called her pastor, Mihail Baciu, to make a request: "Pastor, will you please visit my father in the hospital?" Mihail went to the hospital as soon as possible. He was escorted to the Intensive Care Unit where he found Dale. On a life support machine, Dale breathed heavily. The nurse who cared for Dale asked Mihail to keep his visit short because her patient was in very bad condition. The family feared Dale was experiencing the last few hours of life.

Mihail assured Dale that Jesus loved him, and that God had a wonderful future for him. But all the time, Dale's eyes remained closed, and there was no indication he heard the pastor's words. Before Mihail left the room, he asked God to keep Dale alive. Mihail believed Dale needed to make a decision to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He continued praying that same prayer as he left the hospital.

The next day Renee called Mihail again, and asked, "Pastor, could you visit my father again?" Mihail expected to hear bad news, but her voice did not sound sad. Instead, she told Mihail that her father had gotten out of bed that morning. When a nurse entered his room, Dale asked, "Where is my breakfast? I am hungry!" That very afternoon Dale was discharged from the hospital. The family believes God performed a miracle and healed Dale.

When Mihail later visited Dale in his home, Alice and Johnny were rejoicing about Dale's sudden improvement. They praised God for His love for Dale. Mihail invited Dale to begin Bible studies with him, and his response was a hardy, "Yes!" Then Alice added, "I want Bible studies, too," and Johnny asked, "Can I join with you?"

Three months later, before the pastor left to attend Camp Meeting, they all asked, "When are you going to baptize us? We love Jesus and are ready to make a public confession of our faith and love for Him."

Today, the Hunters continue to be blessed by a weekly Bible study. Other members of their big family expressed a desire to study the Bible, and they join them at home to study the Word of God.

Mihail Baciu, Superior Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor, as told to Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent