A Baptism That Drew Thousands
Before becoming the EFCA’s first president, E.A. Halleen was a rural pastor sharing the gospel in Nebraska.
From the EFCA's earliest years, believers' baptism was an important witness of faith in Christ. Here’s a great example of how E.A. Halleen, the EFCA's first president, and several other Free Church pastors and churches brought people to the Lord and baptized them in Nebraska.
On Sunday, August 12, 1900, a baptism service was held on the Platte River, twenty miles north of Holdrege, Nebraska. This was a joint service of several Swedish Evangelical Free Churches in the area. The well-known pastors Rev. Gustaf F. Johnson and Rev. Erik Anton Halleen provided accounts of the service.
Halleen reported that no less than 84 men and women were baptized that day. An article...estimated that between two to three thousand people were present to observe the outdoor baptisms.
Halleen reported that no less than 84 men and women were baptized that day. An article, written by Johnson soon after the event and published in the Swedish-language periodical Chicago-Bladet, estimated that between two to three thousand people were present to observe the outdoor baptisms.
At the time, E. A. Halleen (1874-1958) served as pastor of the Free Church in Holcomb, Nebraska, and Gustaf F. Johnson (1873–1959) was pastor of the Free Church nearby in Holdrege. The day began with Rev. Arvid Hjelmfelt (1854-1900), a Sunday school missionary from Holdrege, speaking in the morning at 10:00 a.m. He was followed by a message from E. A. Halleen.
The large crowd then enjoyed their picnic lunches on the bank of the river, and as they ate, everyone enjoyed “lively and warm conversation.” At 1:30 p.m., a message was delivered by Rev. Lars M. Ekman (1845-1916) of Phelps Center, Nebraska, and he was followed by a message from Johnson. Not only were each of these Swedish Free Churches well-represented but, in addition, Rev. Hans. G. Swedell (1847-1919) came with a crowd of people from Kearney, Nebraska.
The baptism service was the culmination of evangelistic preaching in the preceding weeks. Then, on this Sunday afternoon, one-by-one, each baptism candidate was baptized in the Platte, “buried with Christ through baptism into death.” After the service, Johnson reported, “We gathered in a circle, and laying hands on the baptized, we prayed for them, ourselves and one another that we might be filled by God with the Holy Spirit—and then was heard both the sound of joy and the sound of weeping.”
Today, we rejoice in the same way as believers demonstrate their faith in Christ through the step of baptism.
Send a Response
Share your thoughts with the author.