More Baptisms

After being inspired by seeing strangers baptized at Damien's church a week ago, we were even more excited about Jon and Chrissy's baptisms planned for Sunday.  Once a year their church hosts a big picnic in a park and afterwards people are baptized in the nearby creek.  Jon and Chrissy had been planning this for awhile.

It was another sweltering day with high heat and humidity.  When we arrived, a huge banquet was awaiting us under a pavilion.  Jon's church family was sitting all around on blankets and lawn chairs.  Because Dominic and Stacia came for the weekend, they were able to come and support Jon and Chrissy too, and of course Damien and Gretchen were there.  Jon and Chrissy's lives were changed several years ago when they dedicated themselves to serving God but now they were making a public profession of faith by their baptisms. 

After our meal we all trekked down to a muddy, shallow stream.  The seven people waded into the water with their pastor. One by one, each came forward and the pastor read a verse he had chosen for that person.  After affirming their faith in salvation by Jesus Christ alone, they each were baptized.  Jon and Chrissy were last.  My heart was beating fast when it was my son's turn.  My little boy, now a man, strong in his commitment to his family and his Lord. I am so proud of him. Jon was so serious.  I know how much this meant to him.  The pastor read Jon's verse and Jon proclaimed his faith.  He was lowered into the water to represent death to his old life and he arose out of the water to symbolize new life in Christ.  And not only that, but to proclaim that just as we will one day die, we will be raised to eternal life. 

The crowd cheered and Fred boldly shouted, "Praise God!"  Chrissy was last.  She was teary-eyed and I was too.  The pastor affirmed her heart for the unborn and her relentless zeal to save babies.  He read verses from Psalm 139.  I thought about all Jon and Chrissy have been through, their turbulent childhoods and their difficult lives together when they were younger.  So much heartache and struggle.  Yet here they were, healed and restored.  God is so good. This was a profound moment in time. 

 

The crowd was in a celebratory mood after the baptisms.  Children waded into the creek to play, along with Lana and her friend.  Suddenly Lana was crying and running out of the water.  She had a huge crayfish attached to her hand!  Jon was so good with her.  He calmly removed the crayfish and together he and Lana returned it to the stream.  This day of baptism will always include the crayfish story!   

We headed home, our hearts filled with memories of good family time.
Dominic and his family left to go home to D.C..  Our whirlwind weekend closed out and we are grateful for it all.