A cancer-stricken atheist gets baptized as his final request before dying six days later.
Thomas Robert
Thomas Robert had been an atheist for most of his life but just last September, he turned to Christ and decided to get baptized. The Alabama native was dying of lung cancer, wheelchair-bound, and was unable to breathe without oxygen tubes.
Despite his challenging condition, Corey Agricola, a chaplain at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, made his request possible. Working closely with Thomas’ doctor, Dr. Ashely Nichols, he assembled a team to help him baptize Thomas.
“Dr. Nichols made it clear he would only be able to be off oxygen for a few seconds, which meant we couldn’t roll him down the ramp in the pool wheelchair, so we had to use the chairlift to place him in the pool,” Corey said.
Baptized
Thomas was baptized surrounded by his wife, son, two sisters, niece, nephew and the medical staff at the UAB. Corey said that Thomas’s decision to get baptized has made an impact.
“I have served in the ministry over 20 years and seven of those at UAB. This is the greatest day of my career,” Agricola told Roberts at the beginning of the baptism. “Thomas, you never thought you would preach a sermon in your life; but you preached today. You made an impact on people who you do not even know.”
New Life
Thomas celebrated a new life in Christ by getting baptized on that joyful day.
“We thank God for the good and perfect gift of this day. This is one of the greatest days of your life, Thomas, because we are celebrating your new life,” Agricola added.
However, on September 10, six days after being baptized, Thomas died. It was a bittersweet ending, but Thomas’ testimony will forever be remembered. His life teaches us that it is never too late to decide to follow Jesus.
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Reference: Fox 5