Partnership fuels Gospel multiplication in Southern California

REDLANDS, Calif. — As Nancy prepared to be baptized at Portrait Church in Redlands, she couldn’t get rid of a nagging fear. A young single mom in her 30s battling cancer, one side of her body had recently lost all feeling.

Nancy didn’t want to fall. “She literally told me that falling would be her worst nightmare,” said the church’s pastor, Jay Stovall.

Following the baptism of the first two of the six women to be baptized that day, Stovall watched Nancy unexpectedly collapse as she awaited her turn.

“I look over there and see a nurse and some other people I trust helping her,” Stovall said. “It looks like she’s stable, so we baptize the next three people. I look over at my wife, and she’s sobbing. I figured Nancy wouldn’t be getting baptized.”