Kirk Shea accepted and gave his heart to Jesus in December and wanted to be baptized to start the year out new in Christ. On Jan. 8, Shea went down into the water and arose to newness with Jesus.
Shea had been studying with Jim Harris, an Elgin Church member, for several months. Steve Gilmore, Elgin Church pastor, received a call late one Thursday evening from Harris who had just finished a study with Shea. Harris was so excited as he explained that Shea wanted to be baptized.
The day of Shea's baptism began with a communion service and special music by his stepmother Bonnie Shea. His father was so happy as he witnessed Pastor Gilmore baptize his son.
The following poem was written from Shea's heart. It was read as he was waiting in the tank just before baptism. It brought many tears to the eyes of the congregation.
Empty
How oft’ I would run
Many times I tried to hide
To get away from that awful feeling
That terrible empty down inside.
How many times
Did I ever really think
That the emptiness inside
Could be filled with drugs and drink.
Got real good at goin’ 'round
With false bravado an’ smilin’ face,
But acts of lust and lots of drink
Still couldn’t fill that empty space.
I made many “friends”
Some here, some there
Always thinking
That they really did care.
And with those “friends”
That really weren’t chosen right
Can lead you astray
Then leave you when times are tight.
Tried collecting material things
Thanking that would do the trick
Required long hours, hard work
Which left me tired and sick.
So more drugs and alcohol
Spendin’ all my money
Yet I couldn’t get that “feeling”
Eyes watery, nose always runny.
There has always been that call
One that I wouldn’t heed
His name is Jesus Christ
He can fill our every need.
But like most people
I thought I could go my own
So why was it
That I still felt so all alone?
With so many bad habits
And bills I couldn’t pay
Finally caught up to me
One dark, eventful day
To try and pay for my past
From family I stole some wealth
Never thinking of them
Just my poor, “pitiful” self.
I couldn’t even face them
For in me they lost faith and trust
Several times I want to repay them
To gain back their respect, a must!
Could it really be done
By just being me?
No I don’t think so
For I was lost, you see.
So I got down on my knees
From there I began to pray;
Asking Jesus into my life,
To pick me up, show me the way.
Where earthly things couldn’t fill
My deep, dark, empty space,
Now’s been flooded with joy and hope
From God’s ever-loving grace!
So to all my friends past and present
And to people I don’t even know
By asking Jesus into your life
To that empty space, His love will surely flow.
And if you think it may be hard
If you think it might be tough
A longing, repenting heart is all you need
For a start, that’s really just enough.
So for all of us “empties”
There is always hope and glee
For through Jesus, that space down deep
Will be filled with His love for all eternity!
Kirk P. Shea
Kirk Shaw was baptized on Jan. 8 by Steve Gilmore, Elgin Church pastor.
