“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:15-18 (NIV)
I was baptized at eleven years of age by the pastor of the Willow Branch Baptist Church. I confessed Christ as my Lord and Savior that day and so did my brother, my sister and two of my cousins.
We knew we were connected to a faith that went back generations. But it wasn’t until later that I fully understood that faith and just how deep and far the connection.
The Willow Branch Baptist Church was within a short walk of my grandparent’s home. I always heard that my great, great grandfather (my mother’s mother’s father’s father), had donated the land, helped build the church, and acted as its founding pastor. His name was Cambell Hiscal Barker. Apparently, he had been a Methodist, but a revivalist that came through convinced him of the importance of baptism by immersion. He became a Baptist and since there wasn’t a Baptist church in the area, he planted one.
Rev. Barker was illiterate, but that didn’t stop him. He’d have his son read the Scripture and then he’d preach from there. He was a farmer, land owner, logger, and a preacher. When his wife was diagnosed with the “consumption,” he moved to the better climate of California, leaving behind my great grandfather, Henry Barker, who was already married.
This coming Sunday, our family has asked me to present a historical plaque to the Willow Branch Baptist Church with a photo of Cambell Hiscal Barker and a description of his part in the planting of the church. As I stand to speak, I’ll be thinking of my mother and my grandmother who told me these stories. But most of all I’ll be standing on the faith that they shared with me.
When the apostle Peter confessed Christ, Jesus promised to build the church upon his confession of faith. Centuries later Christ is still building His church. When we have the faith to follow and confess Jesus, He promises to do the building. Building the church has never been our job. When we lift up Jesus by faith, He does the building.