In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
semper amico
In Susan's work
Child of Satan Child of God
(by Susan Atkins with Bob Slosser),
Susan shares with us her awesome story
of her aspiration to be baptized;
In Susan's work
Child of Satan Child of God
(by Susan Atkins with Bob Slosser),
Susan shares with us her awesome story
of her aspiration to be baptized;
"...And there were others,
all adding to my conviction that I wanted to be baptized.
And I wanted it the way
I believed Jesus had been baptized -
by immersion.
I couldn't go to the River Jordan,
but I wanted it as much like
the early church experiences as possible.
I had been baptized as a child,
but I was disturbed by the fact that I hadn't known
what it meant at that time.
Now that I knew more about it,
I wanted a believer's baptism by immersion.
And that would take some doing in the
Special Security Unit of a prison..."
all adding to my conviction that I wanted to be baptized.
And I wanted it the way
I believed Jesus had been baptized -
by immersion.
I couldn't go to the River Jordan,
but I wanted it as much like
the early church experiences as possible.
I had been baptized as a child,
but I was disturbed by the fact that I hadn't known
what it meant at that time.
Now that I knew more about it,
I wanted a believer's baptism by immersion.
And that would take some doing in the
Special Security Unit of a prison..."
To us,
as Susan's readers,
this was an exciting time for Susan.
We wish we were there with Susan
to share this time with her.
Through Susan's writings,
we can be.
Susan says the prison chaplain told her
he would help her in any way he could.
as Susan's readers,
this was an exciting time for Susan.
We wish we were there with Susan
to share this time with her.
Through Susan's writings,
we can be.
Susan says the prison chaplain told her
he would help her in any way he could.
However,
Susan was apprehensive;
"...I also mentioned it to the people in SSU
and triggered a lot of kidding and joking..."
"...I knew a public baptism in that place
would take courage that I might not possess.
I knew the ridicule would be heavy..."
Susan was apprehensive;
"...I also mentioned it to the people in SSU
and triggered a lot of kidding and joking..."
"...I knew a public baptism in that place
would take courage that I might not possess.
I knew the ridicule would be heavy..."
Susan tells us
"Occurring nearly simultaneously with my yearning
for baptism were thoughts about an old friend
I hadn't seen in eight years or more..."
"...the man who had visited and prayed
with my mother just before her death.
I wanted very much to talk with him.
I vaguely thought he might be
related to my hopes for baptism.
But he had left my hometown and I didn't know where he was.
Once again, the chaplain came to my aid and located..."
"Occurring nearly simultaneously with my yearning
for baptism were thoughts about an old friend
I hadn't seen in eight years or more..."
"...the man who had visited and prayed
with my mother just before her death.
I wanted very much to talk with him.
I vaguely thought he might be
related to my hopes for baptism.
But he had left my hometown and I didn't know where he was.
Once again, the chaplain came to my aid and located..."
After being contacted by Susan,
and security clearances out of the way,
Susan's old friend visited her at the prison;
"...was given permission to visit a former member
of his church family who had gone so far astray
as to land in prison for murder..."
Susan shares with us her visit with her old friend,
and how they talked about Susan's mother.
Susan tells us it was then that she knew
she wanted her old friend to baptize her,
and Susan said to him;
"...I want to be baptized - immersed - and I'd like
to have you do it for me. Will you?"
Susan's friend asked her some questions,
and then told Susan;
"Sure, I'd like more than anything to do it
if you can get it approved.
You'll have to do some real searching to find a portable tank,
but they can be found"
and security clearances out of the way,
Susan's old friend visited her at the prison;
"...was given permission to visit a former member
of his church family who had gone so far astray
as to land in prison for murder..."
Susan shares with us her visit with her old friend,
and how they talked about Susan's mother.
Susan tells us it was then that she knew
she wanted her old friend to baptize her,
and Susan said to him;
"...I want to be baptized - immersed - and I'd like
to have you do it for me. Will you?"
Susan's friend asked her some questions,
and then told Susan;
"Sure, I'd like more than anything to do it
if you can get it approved.
You'll have to do some real searching to find a portable tank,
but they can be found"
Susan and her old friend then discussed the details
of what they needed to do.
However,
Susan had serious concerns and fears
regarding what she was about to do;
"...For the first time in four months,
I was doubtful and insecure,
even after the assurance
the Lord had given me so forcefully.
I was once again afraid,
and at the center of the fear was my old enemy,
my image..."
"...I was going to let it be known far and wide
that Susan Atkins was one of the Jesus people.
A Jesus freak!
A sap who couldn't make it on her own..."
Susan continued about her image,
and what people would say about her,
both inside, and outside of the prison.
To us,
it was a mind-boggling position for Susan.
No one can know what that was like for Susan,
except Susan.
But Susan turned it around,
as only Susan could,
and we are awe-inspired;
of what they needed to do.
However,
Susan had serious concerns and fears
regarding what she was about to do;
"...For the first time in four months,
I was doubtful and insecure,
even after the assurance
the Lord had given me so forcefully.
I was once again afraid,
and at the center of the fear was my old enemy,
my image..."
"...I was going to let it be known far and wide
that Susan Atkins was one of the Jesus people.
A Jesus freak!
A sap who couldn't make it on her own..."
Susan continued about her image,
and what people would say about her,
both inside, and outside of the prison.
To us,
it was a mind-boggling position for Susan.
No one can know what that was like for Susan,
except Susan.
But Susan turned it around,
as only Susan could,
and we are awe-inspired;
"...and there will be all kinds of wild stories.
Please help me, Jesus.
The struggle was won.
Once again, I knew I belonged to Christ.
I'd been forgiven and
I'd been granted the ability to forgive myself.
I had to go with Jesus..."
Susan tells us about the portable tank
she was able to obtain,
and how the people around her assisted her.
Susan continued of the moment she was baptized;
"...He leaned me forward,
and I went under the surface.
The water streamed off my face and body as I came up,
laughing and crying at the same time.
I threw my arms around Sarge,
and he joyfully hugged me back.
Being welcomed into the family of God was the neatest experience!"
Please help me, Jesus.
The struggle was won.
Once again, I knew I belonged to Christ.
I'd been forgiven and
I'd been granted the ability to forgive myself.
I had to go with Jesus..."
Susan tells us about the portable tank
she was able to obtain,
and how the people around her assisted her.
Susan continued of the moment she was baptized;
"...He leaned me forward,
and I went under the surface.
The water streamed off my face and body as I came up,
laughing and crying at the same time.
I threw my arms around Sarge,
and he joyfully hugged me back.
Being welcomed into the family of God was the neatest experience!"
Susan asked for an old friend.
Susan's friend went to her.
He was there for Susan,
he helped Susan achieve what she desired.
He was there for Susan.
Once a friend...
(All quotes are from
Child of Satan Child of God
by Susan Atkins
with Bob Slosser)
home
Susan's friend went to her.
He was there for Susan,
he helped Susan achieve what she desired.
He was there for Susan.
Once a friend...
(All quotes are from
Child of Satan Child of God
by Susan Atkins
with Bob Slosser)
home
