{"id":31942,"date":"2025-09-22T17:17:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T21:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=31942"},"modified":"2025-09-22T23:12:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T03:12:28","slug":"tusculum-university-student-who-overcame-life-challenges-with-help-from-god-is-baptized-in-the-nolichucky-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/tusculum-university-student-who-overcame-life-challenges-with-help-from-god-is-baptized-in-the-nolichucky-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Tusculum University student who overcame life challenges with help from God is baptized in the Nolichucky River"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 One of the blessings of Tusculum University<\/a>\u2019s campus ministries<\/a> program is access to a minister who can help students take their spiritual journey and connection with the Lord to the next level.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Rev. E.J. Swatsell, left, speaks with Dare Crusade before the baptism.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The Rev. E.J. Swatsell, left, baptizes Dare Crusade in the Nolichucky River.<\/p><\/div>\n

A case in point is student Dare Crusade, who recently met with the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, director of spiritual life and special projects at the university, and asked the minister to baptize him after giving his life to Christ. Swatsell, an ordained minister in the Church of God, was happy to oblige and recently baptized him in the Nolichucky River near David Crockett Birthplace State Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing baptized solidifies the path that I was already on and reaffirms it to me and to God,\u201d said Crusade, a senior environmental science<\/a> major, after the ceremony. \u201cI won\u2019t say that I feel a whole lot different because I\u2019ve already felt good about my situation beforehand. But I feel like my commitment has been witnessed, and it helps to hold myself and have others hold me accountable to live the way that we should \u2013 to be kind, to love everyone and, above all else, love thy neighbor as myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The baptism aligns nicely with Tusculum\u2019s theme for this year \u2013 \u201cExcelling in faith, in knowledge and love\u201d \u2013 from 2 Corinthians 8:7. It also reflects how Tusculum provides abundant opportunities for students to grow in their faith.<\/p>\n

\"Left

Left to right, Dr. Scott Hummel, Dr. David Cook, Dare Crusade, Jessica Crusade and the Rev. E.J. Swatsell pose after the baptism.<\/p><\/div>\n

Crusade is not your ordinary traditional student. He is 33 and has been married to his wife, Jessica, for eight years, and they live in Bulls Gap. He is an Army veteran, having served in the Reserves and on active duty for 10 years. He commutes to campus every day to take his classes.<\/p>\n

Just before his baptism, Crusade shared his story with Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president; Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs; and the Rev. Jon Reed, pastor of Tusculum Baptist Church, who came to share in this moment in the student\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got out of the Army in 2021 for the second time, and I kind of felt a little lost and aimless,\u201d Crusade said. \u201cI didn\u2019t come from a Christian upbringing, and I never knew God as I do now. I had a lot of really dark times trying to reassimilate back into society after the Army. There was a lot of questioning my morality, my moral flexibility, with all the things I experienced in the military and questioning whether I was a good person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, a friend of Crusade committed suicide, which produced sadness for him but also recognition that it could have been him. He said that was the catalyst for him to realize he needed to make changes in his life.<\/p>\n

He started talking to people he normally would not and became curious about Christianity. He would read from his Bible to see what wisdom he would gain and had a couple of moments where God spoke to him, including while he was on the shore of the Nolichucky.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I still didn\u2019t quite understand the whole relationship to Jesus yet, and it took me some time to get there,\u201d Crusade said. \u201cOnce I actually read the Gospels, it made sense to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knelt and asked for a sign that he was on the right path, and the sun pierced through the clouds and shined on him. He felt goose bumps and God\u2019s love. That was an incredible experience for him, and he said he felt the best he had in years.<\/p>\n

As he spoke before his baptism, he was nearing his one-year anniversary of being sober. He said he is healthier, happier and more in love with his wife than ever before. He said he owes it all to God.<\/p>\n

\"Dare

Dare Crusade, left, and his wife, Jessica, celebrate after the baptism.<\/p><\/div>\n

Jessica Crusade remembers the dark times and became emotional when her husband shared his story with the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis change was unexpected for both of us, but it was a happy accident,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve stuck with him through a lot, so I am just very happy today. He just feels like he is radiating light nowadays instead of darkness, and it\u2019s just such a relief and happiness to see that. I\u2019m happy with the journey he has been on and is going to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the baptism occurred, Swatsell and Crusade discussed what the actual act means. Swatsell said it conveys an outward expression of an inward confession of a relationship with God and participation in the salvation process. The minister also shared he was performing the ceremony in the name of the trinity \u2013 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

The actual moment consisted of full immersion, which is a symbol of being dead to self and born again in Christ.<\/p>\n

Swatsell said participating in the baptism was extremely meaningful to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s almost a confirmation that I\u2019m where I\u2019m supposed to be with this position at Tusculum,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s confirmation that this position has eternal value. My goal in ministry is to make more than just a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. David Cook, left, prays for Dare Crusade after the baptism.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dr. Hummel and Dr. Cook were happy for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always so encouraging to see God as work,\u201d Dr. Hummel told Crusade. \u201cIt is an honor to be here and share this moment with you, and it brings me back to the time I accepted Christ. It reminds me that the story of salvation does not end with baptism but rather discipleship and the walk with Christ begin with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all come as sinners, and God washes that clean,\u201d Dr. Cook said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see the fruits of how God is already working in you. It\u2019s really, really awesome to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ceremony ended with Dr. Cook saying a prayer for Crusade.<\/p>\n

Additional information about Tusculum\u2019s ministries is available at https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/campus-ministries\/<\/a>. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 One of the blessings of Tusculum University<\/a>\u2019s campus ministries<\/a> program is access to a minister who can help students take their spiritual journey and connection with the Lord to the next level.<\/p>\n

A case in point is student Dare Crusade, who recently met with the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, director of spiritual life and special projects at the university, and asked the minister to baptize him after giving his life to Christ. Swatsell, an ordained minister in the Church of God, was happy to oblige and recently baptized him in the Nolichucky River near David Crockett Birthplace State Park.<\/p>\n

Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,19,142,169,146,1,6,148,147,149,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nTusculum University student who overcame life challenges with help from God is baptized in the Nolichucky River :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/tusculum-university-student-who-overcame-life-challenges-with-help-from-god-is-baptized-in-the-nolichucky-river\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tusculum University student who overcame life challenges with help from God is baptized in the Nolichucky River :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 One of the blessings of Tusculum University\u2019s campus ministries program is access to a minister who can help students take their spiritual journey and connection with the Lord to the next level. A case in point is student Dare Crusade, who recently met with the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, director of spiritual life and special projects at the university, and asked the minister to baptize him after giving his life to Christ. Swatsell, an ordained minister in the Church of God, was happy to oblige and recently baptized him in the Nolichucky River near David Crockett Birthplace State Park. 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