Dick Safranski surrounded by a few of his friends in the neighborhood.
Story by Chris Meehan. Photo by Beth Kabele.
Dick Safranski, an 82-year-old widower from Portland, can't stop talking about the birthday gift his People of Praise neighbors gave him on January 26.
That evening members of the Clark, Kabele and Ridenour families crowded into his home and prayed with him to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. "Getting prayed over was spectacular," he says.
The story began at the regular Monday night dinner that the Clark, Kabele, Brady and Ridenour families hold. They were talking about people they knew who might be open to being baptized in the Holy Spirit. (At their community meeting the day before, they had heard a talk from the "Spread the Fire" series, developed by Kevin Ranaghan and Louis Grams about praying with people for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.) Someone brought up Dick Safranski.
Dick has lived in the same neighborhood-where several community families also live-for 19 years. He loved to walk around the block once or twice daily with Gloria, his wife of 61 years. "They knew everybody," Pat Clark says. As Gloria battled cancer during the last six years of her life, community families prayed over her many times. She died March 27, 2013.
During the dinner, Pat noted that it was Dick's birthday and suggested the group go over and sing to him. Dan Kabele raised the stakes: "Why don't we give him something that nobody else has given him?"
They all trooped over to his house, but Dick was at his daughter's home for dinner, so they sang into a cell phone, before returning to Kabeles'.
Dick arrived home minutes later to discover a message on his answering machine-muffled voices singing "Happy Birthday." He didn't recognize the number but called back.
When the crowd realized Dick had returned, they rushed back and sang to him again from his front porch.
After they reminisced about Gloria and the blessings of his past year, Dan said, "Dick, we have something to give you for your birthday–would you like to be prayed with to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?"
Dick's eyes welled up with tears and he replied that he had always loved it when they prayed with Gloria, and he wanted prayer as well.
Dick was struck by Beth Kabele's voice over his shoulder, speaking in tongues. "They talked about bringing the Holy Spirit into the house and me," he remembers. "They did, and he did!"
The next morning, Dick told his family and his parish priest about what had happened to him, and since then, as Dan says, "He's been telling everybody he knows."
Beth notes that Dick has always been God's man. "His example of a faith-filled life has impacted those around him in the neighborhood. He is highly respected as a steady, faithful, good, patient and loving man. That's why we were so drawn to him from the first days of meeting him and Gloria."
"I was a 'cradle Catholic,'" says Dick, "growing up in a Polish family with seven children and a love of the church. I've always been active in my parish, but after being prayed with I'm even more cognizant of what's going on there. The word 'spectacular' doesn't cover it. I felt different since being prayed with; God has compensated me for losing my sweetheart. My faith keeps getting deeper."
Responses
Justin Walters says:
March 27th, 2015 at 4:59 PM
Glory to God! Come Holy Spirit!
Edna Malone says:
March 27th, 2015 at 5:29 PM
Wonderful uplifting story. There are so many folks out there just like Dick that need the Holy Spirit in their lives. Lets go find them!!!
Paul DeCelles says:
March 27th, 2015 at 5:32 PM
Great story of love. What a lesson for those children! They saw "honor your grandparents" in action.
Gotta love it!
Marge Connolly says:
March 27th, 2015 at 6:24 PM
"Face to face, and one by one."
Bridget Donohue says:
March 27th, 2015 at 6:57 PM
Wow!
Will DeSanto says:
March 27th, 2015 at 7:11 PM
Dear Portland brothers & sisters:
What courage you have & joy how Jesus
used each to give, Dick the best ever,
the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Glory. Keep it up. My wife, Ginny & I hope
to visit you this year. Pray for our kids in
Portland & Seattle receive this gift.
Blessings,
Will & Ginny DeSanto
Servant Branch- Twin Cities MN
Tom Caneff says:
March 27th, 2015 at 7:41 PM
Wonderful, wonderful story. Glory be to God!
Marcie rosencrantz says:
March 27th, 2015 at 8:26 PM
That was just beautiful, God did a wonderfully work. Give the glory to God.
Alana Busekrus says:
March 27th, 2015 at 9:40 PM
Thanks for sharing! The faith of children and parents surrounding this man in love is a beautiful example and expression of love!
Diane Ridenour says:
March 27th, 2015 at 10:21 PM
What an awesome story of literally love of neighbor! It is a dear story to me especially since I have met Dick. I am so happy for him to receive such a precious gift!Awesome kingdom building among the Hub!
Dave Baldwin says:
March 28th, 2015 at 12:07 AM
Thank you, Portland Branch! At the NoVA Branch, during the Branch visit last weekend by Dorothy & Kevin Ranaghan, many of us were saying how we should look for more opportunities to pray with people for baptism in the Holy Spirit. You have given us a great example!
Carol Govek says:
March 28th, 2015 at 8:41 AM
Glory to God for such faithful witness. This story blesses me as I rejoice with you all in the power of the Holy Spirit.
RUTH JORGENSON says:
March 29th, 2015 at 11:20 AM
WHAT INSTANTLY CAME TO MIND WAS PETER NOT HAVING MONEY BUT BRINGING THE LOVE AND HEALING OF GOD TO THE CRIPPLED MAN. YOU DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING, BROUGHT HEALING AND LOVE OF GOD TO DICK! I AM SURE DICK IS
WALKING AND LEAPING AND PRAISING GOD, IF AT LEAST IN HIS
SOUL AND SPIRIT! THANK YOU JESUS!
WHAT A JOY TO BE USED SO WONDERFULLY BY AND FOR THE LORD!
Terry Bomkamp says:
March 29th, 2015 at 4:09 PM
What a great example of stepping out in the Spirit
Praise God!
Pam Seale says:
March 29th, 2015 at 6:50 PM
Bless the Lord! Thanks fo your boldness and faithfulness!
John Boughton says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 8:58 AM
You show us that sharing the gift of the Spirit doesn't have to be difficult or forced, but that we do have to be attentive to our neighbors and to the great Gift we have been given to share. Thanks for the good example.
Karen Heintzelman says:
April 6th, 2015 at 9:44 AM
This is so encouraging!! Alleluia!!
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