Baptism in the Shallows: A Deaf Man’s Public Declaration of Faith

 October 15, 2025

The Tennessee River’s shallows held me in its lukewarm embrace, the late summer sun warming my face as I rose from the water. My brother-in-law—a missionary whose ministry has taken him to Spain, Mexico, and Africa—steadied me, his hands gripping my shoulders. Then, his grip softened into a hug. With quiet tears I whispered into his shoulder exclaiming “It’s been so long” as I shook my head. October 15, 2025 was a turning point for me. 

My wife stood on the pebbled shore, her presence a quiet anchor after 32 years of marriage. Later, she told me she’d nearly cried when I emerged. Nearby, strangers paused at a distance—their presence making this moment both personal and meaningful to everyone there.

This baptism was about obedience, not spectacle. My single hearing aid, worn in my right ear, stayed in my brother-in-law’s truck. The world muted into ripples and sunlight. He spoke the words: “Buried with Christ in baptism” (Romans 6:4). The river washed away excuses. What remained was happy relief—a soul declared “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Now I have a meaningful journey ahead of me.

My wife’s strength held steady until her quiet confession afterward: “I almost cried.” Strangers marked this act as shared humanity. Climbing ashore, clarity replaced metaphor. Christ’s love transcends hearing aids (Romans 10:17). God’s presence is known in stillness (Psalm 46:10). Holiness thrives where lives intersect. Christ is King!