Mr. Yataro Yamaguchi 3
Needless to say, his prayer did not spoil our meeting at all. As he concluded there was not a dry eye in the little assembly.
Fervently we thanked God for pouring out His grace and salvation on this one who came from another culture and religion.
As we crowded about him to express our joy in his decision for Christ, he turned to me and said, "I read in Bible about bury with Jesus when we trust Him. Before I sprinkled with water, but that not mean anything to me. Now I like bury under water, show that old life all gone and new life begun."
I told him we would try to make arrangements for his baptism by the following Sunday.
He looked up surprised and said, "Mr. Kasamatsu tell me Jesus Christ coming back again. True?"
"Yes," I answered, "He is to return again."
"Mr. Kasamatsu tell me Jesus coming soon. True?"
"Yes, He says, 'Surely, I come quickly.'"
"He not come before next Sunday?"
"I cannot say that."
"Maybe He be back before next Sunday?"
"Yes, He might come at any time."
"Then I no like to wait till next Sunday. I like do today what He want me to do. I fight Him too long already. Now I want to obey at once."
"Forgive me!" I exclaimed. "We will arrange your baptism for today. Brothers, can we meet at the Sacramento River at 2:30 this afternoon?" All agreed to this. "Then if you meet us there we will see that you are baptized at once."
At about two o'clock Mr. Horsey and I were on our way to the river when we saw a procession of some forty Japanese merchants, all in their best clothes, who with Mr. Yamaguchi, and another Japanese leader at their head, were marching two by two in regular order to our meeting-place at the riverside.
When all were gathered there I gave an address on the meaning of Christian Baptism, which Mr. Yamaguchi himself interpreted to his Japanese friends. Then he gave his own personal story of coming to know the Lord Jesus, and Mr. Horsey led him into the river, where we solemnly immersed him in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
During the years since his conversion Mr. Yamaguchi has demonstrated by his lifestyle that he is indeed a Christian: no more is loving money his god. I have met him frequently and I’ve always been refreshed in spirit by his fervor and evident love for Christ.
Evangelist Kasamatsu has long since gone to heaven, but I cherish his memory as that of a beloved fellow-minister with whom it was a joy to have fellowship in service for our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.
