A Teacher and Friend Baptized at May 23rd Service

Flanked by family and friends, Ed Carella was immersed into Christ at the 9 AM “Special Missions” Sunday service of the Greater Hartford Church of Christ.

This past August, Ed’s wife passed away after a battle with cancer. Since then, Ed and his two children – Gillian and E.J. – have pulled together in attempts to help each other through. In the middle of this tragedy, Ed has turned toward Jesus and not away, as others might. In fact, though primarily Ed wanted to get his own relationship right with God – it was also essential to him that his kids were witnesses of his baptism because he wants so badly for them to see him making positive steps that they too can follow.

Ed was met by Sonia Barkman and invited out to visit a service. From there, Lincoln Gifford, Josh Smith, Eric Easton, Bob Oberle and others have met for Bible studies on a regular Thursday night basis. Though Ed is a bit older than our typical conversion, his humility speaks volumes to how people of all ages and all towns need lives devoted to Christ.

Ed is an elementary school teacher and has been teaching children of all ages for the past 25 years. That takes patience and perseverance, the very qualities he most exhibited in his search to find and follow God.

Following a powerful service, the Giffords hosted a celebration luncheon with great chili, volleyball and fellowship in their back yard – just a couple of blocks way from Ed’s West Hartford home. The angels also had their own party in heaven, we believe, and God gets all the glory.