Baptisms!!!

Okay, so its been a week since our Baptismal service - I really should have written last week while things were still fresh, but oh well...

Lets just say that last Sunday was fun! It was special! I've been thinking about this service for about 4-5 months now. Back in the fall/spring (depending on what hemisphere you're in) last year, I asked several of the youth who were Christians if they had been baptized and was surprised to find out that they had not. I started talking to them then about the idea.

When we started the new year - after the long summer break (mid Dec. to mid Jan), I scheduled baptism classes to be held on Sundays after Sunday school (we have service first, then Sunday school). I had 7 youth come to the 2 classes - it was so much fun! I loved sitting with them, explaining what it means to be a Christian and then what baptism was all about and why we should do it. There were several youth that couldn't come to the class because of work or other commitments, so I met with six of them over coffee or milkshakes at a local mall. Of course I loved that too - love sharing with small groups too. I told each one of them after we had gone of the material, that they needed to pray and decide whether they wanted to be baptized at the March 16th service. My desire was to make the service special for them - a time of celebration geared toward the youth.

It was interesting to see that it took most of them up until the week before to decide. Only two of the boys committed early. But all in all, as I wrote before, 10 of them decided to be baptized that day - I was thrilled! Unfortunately, one of the girls ended up having to work that day, so she will be waiting until our next baptismal service.

For the service...
I did the usual planning of the service with the worship planning team. We picked songs about commitment and following God. We had one of our IMB short term missionaries do a dance - she has danced with a company in eastern Virginia. She did two dance numbers. One of the youth also sang the song 'Unwritten' - a pop song that I really like. One of the reasons I asked her to sing that song is because I felt like it communicated that this was a new phase in the lives of the students - the rest is unwritten and they have a chance to start well again. She did a great job. She is one of the ones I met with and she had decided to wait, so I'm hoping she'll be a part of our next service. I preached a short sermon - mainly on what baptism is all about - using the notes from the classes. I got a lot of the material from a sermon by Andy Stanley from Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta. I thought he did a good job of explaining the background and origins of Baptism.

After the sermon, we all went back and changed - there was excitement in the room with the girls. I was a bit nervous, but excited as well. Unfortunately, the day was really cold and rainy - dreary outside, but bright inside! Fortunately, the water was warm! Ivan had assured me that it would be. All the baptisms went great - it's hard to describe my feelings while it was going on - I just enjoyed myself - it was great because I knew each one - even the one adult who was baptized too. She is one I had given a ride to the hospital back in Nov. Several of the youth were ones I met when I first came, so I've gotten pretty close to them - several went to camp and come to most youth things. It was a very special time and I thank God for the chance to share that experience with the youth!

After the service, we had a reception in the hall with buns and tea and coffee. Several people told me that the service was special - people that don't usually do that, so I know it was neat for others besides me. There were also a few people that approached me that day about being baptized too - how cool is that? I think we'll have another service in May or June - of course it will be getting cold then, but we can bring in some heaters for the changing room and go for it again!

Stay tuned for photos! We also video taped the whole thing - I haven't looked at it yet, but I'm sure its great. Thanks Kelsey and Drew for the photo and videography!