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Over two hundred years ago, two men named John Bass and Joseph Willis were diligently
spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ across the southwest region of Louisiana. John
Bass was listed in the 1810 census as a “Free Person of Color.” He was involved and a founding member of two
of the first Protestant and Baptist churches west of the Mississippi
River. His friend, Joseph
Willis, was the preacher who lit the fire among Baptists west of the Mississippi River. The two worked together and ministered
together for years.
Fast-forward a couple of hundred years later to Dry Creek, Louisiana. Sammy Tippit was ministering with the third
great grandson of Joseph Willis on January 26 and 27, 2007. What is poignant about these two men, serving
the Lord together? Sammy Tippit is the 3rd
great grandson of John Bass. The
third great grandsons of Joseph Willis and John
Bass teamed together two hundred years later. God had brought these two men
together to a Men’s Retreat to help teach people about Christ, just as He had
done with their ancestors.
While the Willis descendent led worship at the Dry Creek Baptist Retreat
Center, Tippit preached at the annual
conference that hosts men from all over the southwest region of Louisiana. Tippit began to share on his new book and
message, “Praying For Your Family.”
“I was thrilled when I learned that I, the 3rd
great grandson of John Bass, would be working with the 3rd great
grandson of Joseph Willis,” said Tippit.
“Because of the fact that we were working together, it was easy for men
to see how a spiritual legacy can be left for future generations. And God touched many of these men’s lives.”
Tippit challenged the men on how to develop a time to
consistently pray for their families and their loved ones. He taught them the core understanding of
prayer and how praying for your family can truly make a difference not only in
the here and now, but even hundreds of years down the road to descendants they
might not even meet.
Many of the men were deeply touched by Tippit’s passion and
message of praying for the family and stated that it would truly be beneficial
for their families’ lives.
If you would like more information on “Praying For Your
Family,” please go to www.prayingforyourfamily.com
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