Beulah Land :: Remembering My Dad ~ A Life~Giving Moment

They say he was born at midnight. August 8th into August 9th. We always celebrated both days …just in case. Carrie Esther (Lawrence) Waters and John George Waters welcomed their third-born child into the world in the middle of the night in August of 1923, in the little town called Inman, South Carolina.

He was affectionately known by his family as “John Robert” but I will always know him as Daddy.

He married a woman with a rare mix of sweetness and a little taste of feisty. They called her Helen. I called her Mama.

Mama and Daddy (Helen Brownlee Waters and John Robert Waters) — wedding picture, August, 1923–

Returning to his roots in South Carolina after a 9-year stretch of studying, planting and growing in family and ministry, a little church was born — Faith Baptist Church. They called him Preacher Waters. I called him Daddy.

He was writing and publishing articles long before the internet and blogging came along. Getting the Good News of Jesus out to as many people as possible in whatever form available was his heart’s desire and greatest passion.

Seven children and over 40 years of ministry in the same town. Same church. Faith lived out. Grace.

David, Linda (Waters) Carter, Joy (Waters) Martin, John, Phil, Paul and Dan (early 1960’s)

Mama and Daddy and the Waters Clan in 1993 at their 50th Wedding Anniversary in Laurens, SC

Many of the grands and great-grands at Mama’s funeral (2016)

While Daddy’s faith is now seen as sight, his legacy of loving Jesus and loving family continues. The waters run deep.

We’ll keep using whatever forums we have available to share the message that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We’ll continue to share the love of Jesus and His longing to bring all of us home to be with Him.

While here on earth, Daddy was always kind of homesick for that “Beulah Land” where he’d be with Jesus. If it’s true whatever makes you cry is often a good indication of what’s most important to you, songs about heaven and going “home” revealed the most tender places in his heart.

Daddy’s not homesick anymore. He’s finally home.

Sweet Beulah Land

I’m kind of homesick for a country
To which I’ve never been before.
No sad goodbyes will there be spoken
For time won’t matter anymore.

Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I’m longing for you (I’m longing for you)
And some day (And some day) on thee I’ll stand (Someday we will stand)
There my home (There my home) shall be eternal (Eternal)
Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land

I’m looking now, just across the river
To where my faith, shall end in sight (Shall end in sight)
There’s just a few more days to labor.
Then I will take my heavenly flight.

Songwriter: Squire Parsons

Listen HERE

Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you and miss you.

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Roger Martin Jr 9 Aug 2018 Reply

I love the song, but I love Papa Waters more. He had a great heart for God, for the church, and for his family. He entrusted to me one of my most precious gifts: Joy.

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Amy 17 Aug 2018 Reply

Beautiful!

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