Water Baptism Day - October 4, 2025

Executive Summary

This transcript documents Gary Sheng and Imani Gentry's water baptism day, conducted by Apostle Delmar Coward Jr. at Crystal Beach Bird Sanctuary in Texas. The day began with the 6th Annual Prayer Rally in Liberty, TX, followed by extensive theological discussions during travel, and culminated in a powerful baptism ceremony. The experience represents a significant milestone in Gary's spiritual journey, occurring just 4.5 years after his initial curiosity about faith and approximately 6 weeks after meeting the Gentry family.

Pre-Baptism Prayer Rally

Liberty, TX 6th Annual Prayer Rally

The day commenced with a community prayer rally in Liberty, TX, featuring multiple local pastors and community leaders. The event demonstrated unified Christian leadership across denominational lines.

Rally Focus - 2 Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive your sins and I will heal your land."

Pastor's Prayer for Unity:

"I pray for every church that will preach the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarene. I pray that they're filled with power. That they preach to the edification, exaltation and comfort. That they will love all that they will seek all... That every pastor will strengthen up. Come boldly before the presence of God and call sin sin and call right right and call wrong wrong."

Community Leadership and Authority

The rally demonstrated the spiritual authority and community respect that Apostle Delmar commands in Liberty County, with local officials and law enforcement supporting the event.

Prayer for Government Officials:

"We pray for President Trump. We pray that you would strengthen him, oh God. We pray that you will protect him, oh God... We pray for our officials here in Liberty, Texas, that they would love the Lord."

Theological Journey to Crystal Beach

Deep Theological Wrestling - Houston Hotel Discussion

The night before baptism (October 3, 2025), Gary, Imani, and her parents engaged in extensive theological discussion at their Houston hotel, covering complex topics including:

Israel and Jewish Identity

Gary shared his recent transformation regarding Israel after studying Derek Prince's teachings:

Gary's Repentance:

"Satan would love for me to hate His chosen people... I think I've literally said this before to friends. It was a fun joke. I was like, oh, thank God invented the Muslims to terrorize the Jews."

Theological Evolution: Gary explained his shift from anti-Israel sentiment to understanding God's covenant with Jewish people, while Imani wrestled with questions about lineage and prophetic fulfillment.

Predestination vs Free Will

Extended discussion about divine sovereignty and human choice:

Gary's Position:

"I think to whatever extent there is free will, it's more or less an illusion... You don't choose your thoughts. They just come into your head."

Imani's Wrestling:

"I believe He is a just, fair God" - struggling to reconcile God's justice with predestination concepts.

Christianity's Exclusivity

Discussion about whether Christianity is the only path to salvation:

Gary's Test:

"The religion that most enables people to be in touch with the supernatural feels like the best one"

Imani's Faith:

"The only way to heaven is through Christ Jesus. But I don't want to be like that because... I don't want to condemn people"

Black American Spirituality and Cultural Analysis

Frank discussion about spiritual strongholds in Black American community:

Gary's Observation:

"You may be cursing yourself by listening to hip-hop music"

Solutions Focus: Discussion emphasized need for deliverance and discipleship rather than resentment narratives.

Ministry Authority and Chaplaincy Work

Dual Chaplaincy Role

Apostle Delmar serves as chaplain for both Liberty County Sheriff's Department and Liberty City Police Department, demonstrating unprecedented spiritual authority in law enforcement.

Police Chief's Request:

"The new chief says he want the best and you're the best. You are the best. And so I want you to be a chaplain to become a chaplain for the police department."

Jail Ministry Impact

Regular Tuesday ministry at Liberty County Jail, working with the most difficult inmates that other facilities won't accept:

Jail Demographics:

"Right at 400... what's left in this jail are the ones that nobody want to take at the other jail... Very bad guys. People that are demonic possessed."

Breaking Spirit of Grief from Officers

Apostle ministers to officers carrying trauma from line-of-duty incidents:

30-Year Healing:

"The guy that came with it done the same thing. They didn't have no... this dude scared across the floor and got up sleeping in tongues... All they have is one thing you heard about Christianity, which is mere religion, not the will of God."

Supernatural Ministry Demonstrations

Prison Deliverance Ministry

Powerful testimony of casting out demons from 140-pound man who hospitalized two officers:

Authority Demonstration:

"I jumped in and I said one word, hey. When I lose that word, hey, it means breath of God. That guy flew up against the wall, over the bunk bed about six inches, stuck to the wall"

Cancer Healing in Jail

Inmate with terminal cancer and tumors healed instantly:

Miracle Testimony:

"That person you prayed for, that boy that had cancer that's supposed to die, he didn't take no morphine that day cuz all the pain left his body and those tumors were gone. They examined him. They could not find no tumors."

Weather Authority and Hurricane Control

Apostle's authority extends to controlling weather patterns:

Hurricane Redirection:

"Every storm since then has turned, with exceptions of one... I live in Texas. I have a voice in Texas, I have a voice. And so the next three or four, five hurricanes that come into the Gulf. And threaten our home, are rebuked and bind"

Kingdom Economics and Land Acquisition

Prophetic Property Investment

God's guidance in acquiring land that later became valuable:

Multi-Billion Dollar Development:

"A multi-billion dollar industry is moving right here... when the owner, one of the owners were asked... 'Why did y'all bring that to Raywood?' And he said, 'Well, you know, it could have been anywhere, but they picked Raywood.'"

Kingdom Ride and Territorial Anointing

Apostle led a "Kingdom Ride" anointing the entire area with oil before the development was announced:

Territorial Taking:

"God told me to pour anointing oil and don't let it stop. Don't let the line break and take this little city for the kingdom... we anointed the whole thing and I had the sheriff's department escort me."

Baptism Ceremony at Crystal Beach

Location Significance - Bird Sanctuary Cross

The baptism took place at Crystal Beach Bird Sanctuary, where God had previously led Apostle to a cross for ministry:

Divine Location Selection:

"God led us to that a long time ago and that's where we try to get to for baptism. Somebody put a cross up there and believe God. And when we were looking for a place on the beach, we start believing God, praying, asking God, and then that cross just shine."

Pre-Baptism Teaching

Apostle provided extensive biblical foundation for water baptism:

Jesus' Baptism Pattern:

"Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened unto him. And he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him, and a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased.'"

Baptism Significance:

"What it represents is the burial of Jesus that's when you go down under the water the burial and then he was resurrected from the dead. When he was resurrected from the dead he wasn't the same Jesus."

Gary's Baptism Experience

Gary's baptism occurred after 4.5 years of spiritual journey:

Gary's Reflection:

"It's been an adjustment to live life in faith... it's been a journey and a half. We're happy to be here though... It felt right. I was ready for it."

Timing Recognition:

"it's interesting how he nudges me or prevents me from doing things... he kind of knew that I needed to wait for the right people to do it with."

Imani's Baptism

Imani was also baptized, continuing her family's spiritual journey:

Imani's Testimony:

"I'm happy to be here. I'm so excited to get baptized... I met Apostle Lee through my mom of course who is from Kenya and she brought all of our family over era now where we reside in San Antonio"

Supernatural Technology and Documentation

Angels on Security Cameras

Encounter Church's security system regularly captures supernatural activity:

Orbs and Angels:

"When you turn the light off at at the church, there's cleanup. After cleanup, they turn the lights off. When they turn the lights off, we seen this barbs all through the church, moving, going through the church."

Glory Cloud Documentation:

"You can see the glory cloud in the sanctuary. You can all these things that some some people aren't able to see see, you know, spiritually. The cameras pick it all up and it is just cool."

Cherubim Manifestation

Massive angelic beings captured on infrared cameras:

Cherubim Encounter:

"A cherubim is a guardian... Two thieves, that's what they were, were walking through the parking lot of encounter at about 3 o'clock in the morning... and a ghost showed up and chased them out of the parking lot."

Theological Insights and Revelations

Religion vs Relationship

Clear distinction between powerless religion and authentic relationship with God:

Religion Critique:

"Religion is weak, powerless. It's not even a shadow of the truth... It's a great deception... Even ones that say Christ, right?"

Everyday Faith Declarations

Systematic approach to living by faith through daily scripture declarations:

Faith System:

"Everyday faith is declaring the word of God out of your mouth every day... Because when you open up the book, when you look at those scriptures, you're looking into the face of Jesus. You're spending time in his face. It's about relationship."

Angels and Spiritual Warfare

Understanding of angelic assistance in ministry:

Angel Assignment:

"That's not for you to know. Just know this. You are my assignment and I will never leave you. Neither will I forsake you."

Ministry Partnership Development

Documentary Vision Confirmation

Gary's calling to document authentic revival confirmed:

Ministry Documentation:

"Gary Sheng in Search of the Next Azusa Revival" project discussed as ongoing documentation of authentic supernatural ministry.

Double Anointing Teaching

Discussion of Paul/Timothy and Elijah/Elisha relationships:

Anointing Transfer:

"The only way to get you find all the ones they that in the Bible they were like a father and a son. True sons got the double anointing ones that were willing to no matter what the cost"

Technology for Kingdom Advancement

Using modern tools for ministry expansion:

Global Vision:

"God created technology for this very reason... when the the three witnesses are going to be killed, two witness the Bible says and God the whole world is going to see after the third day God is going to raise them up. The whole world is going to see it"

Personal Transformation Testimonies

Gary's Journey Summary

From atheism to baptism in 4.5 years:

Spiritual Evolution:

"4 and 1/2 years. From the time that I first started having any curiosity about this. Four and a half years... It was time. It was awesome."

Faith Without Works Discussion

Practical application of faith principles:

Faith and Action:

"Faith without works is dead... I feel like obviously like yes, we need to trust that God always has his ultimate plan for us and everything will work out as it should if we're doing our if we're doing what is necessary and being obedient to him."

Restaurant Ministry and Miracles

Denver Ministry Trip

Testimonies from recent Denver ministry:

Restaurant Salvation:

"the first restaurant that we stopped at the woman the waitress waiting on the table... God wanted to save her... She got born again. Prayed for her right there at the table."

Creative Miracles:

"Baby Faith... Her name was faith... I lay your hands on baby faith miracles cuz that's what that is. He needs a creative miracle... A lot of people don't know don't know how to pray."

Effective Prayer Principles

Teaching on biblical prayer methods:

Scripture-Based Prayer:

"the most effective prayer for things and stuff will be when you find what God has said and you declare that... Faith is the I call it the transportation system according to Ephesians 1."

Generational Curses and Medical System

Breaking Generational Patterns

Understanding spiritual vs genetic inheritance:

Medical Questions Strategy:

"Does cancer run in your family?... There's stroke running in your family. So then the devil by them asking you make you say it and when you say it that's how generational curses are passed. It's not DNA it's words."

Kingdom Identity:

"when you got born again, you got born again of a place where there is no sickness. There is no disease... Your DNA has changed. Everything about you has changed."

Future Ministry Vision

Global House Church Network

Vision for technology-enabled ministry distribution:

Scaling Solution:

"I think it's very difficult for people to find a church that will give them what they need... Technology-enabled global ministry distribution maintaining supernatural authenticity"

Educational Innovation

Developing Encounter-based educational alternatives:

Kingdom Education:

"Encounter-based educational alternatives for children... creating fun, God-centered education for children"

Book Writing Partnership

Gary positioned as apostolic scribe:

Literary Collaboration:

"Gary positioned as apostolic scribe, similar to Paul's letter writers... Multi-genre approach: Letters to specific communities, new psalms, proverbs, all Bible-referenced"

Key Theological Positions Established

Israel and End Times

Understanding of God's chosen people:

Engrafted Family:

"we are engrafted into the family of God. So we call it Israel. It's the family of God if you're going to get it... When you're born of the spirit, God becomes your father."

Glorified Church

Vision for church maturity before rapture:

Church Preparation:

"A glorified church is one that's been faithful, that's been cleansed from all unrighteousness of the blood of Jesus. We're there right now."

Supernatural Normalcy

Expectation of miracles as normal Christian life:

Kingdom Standard:

"Why wouldn't I believe for the man's leg to grow? Why wouldn't I believe for the cancer to disappear? Why wouldn't I? I've seen it too many times."

Closing Reflections

Gary's Transformation Summary

Recognition of profound life change:

Journey Completion:

"I'm realizing that either I have misunderstandings about the Bible or understandings that are not even that important that relate to being a great evangelist for people"

Future Commitment:

"I almost like already planning my next trip... I'm also carving out some time with me. I'm going to meet with like a sheriff or something to talk about the sheriff's impression of Apostle"

Ministry Partnership Confirmation

Establishment of ongoing collaboration:

Documentation Calling:

"Not exactly sure what I'm going to do with all this footage, but at minimum it's like confirmation for me, right? Because you never want to wake up being like, 'Was that a dream'"

This baptism day represents a pivotal moment in Gary Sheng's spiritual journey, marking his public declaration of faith after extensive theological wrestling and supernatural encounters. The experience demonstrates the authentic power of apostolic ministry and establishes the foundation for ongoing documentation of revival movements in the modern era.