What is Baptism?

Baptism is a simple, if strange, ritual. A person is immersed in water as an act of repentance—submerged into the Triune name (Matt. 28:19) and into Christ’s cross (Rom. 6:3–11). Scripture calls this a “cleansing by washing,” (Eph. 5:26) a “pledge,” (1 Pet. 3:21) a “circumcision,” (Col. 2:11) a “clothing,” (Gal. 3:27) a “burial and resurrection,” (Col. 2:12) and a “rebirth.” (Titus 3:5) The meaning of baptism and the many ways we can describe it are rich! Scripture is likewise varied in its description of who we become on the other side of baptism: we are now Christ’s siblings, coworkers, citizens, servants, ambassadors, soldiers, priests, and witnesses. At the core of all these, baptism is about beginnings. In the “death” of baptism, the end of ourselves becomes a doorway, a horizon, a new world of possibilities. We are made new (2 Cor. 5:17).

Christians have long thought of baptism as a “visible word” because it reenacts the drama of Christ’s death and resurrection, descending into and ascending from the water. Baptism tells the gospel story in miniature. But when accompanied by personal stories, the sermon baptism preaches becomes all the more powerful.

In what follows we wanted to share some of the real stories of people who’ve been baptized recently. Each experience is unique and sacred, and names have been changed to honor their privacy. Two years ago we baptized 44 people. Last year we baptized 88. This year our leaders have been asking God for the privilege of celebrating 100 baptisms, more people than we’ve ever baptized in a single year. Sharing a few glimpses of these stories is an act of gratitude, and an invitation to begin your own journey with Jesus, experiencing God’s transformation in your own life.

Stories

Nicole

Nicole was not raised in church and her parents split up during her adolescence. Fallout stemming from that included Nicole becoming estranged from her brother and living apart from her mother for a time. Nicole was befriended by some peers engaged in occult practices, and eventually experienced supernatural evil in her home. A friend who was a Christian showed her the love of Jesus and helped begin a process of discovery and healing. The influence of therapy and a new relationship has been evidence of God’s grace in her story. Nicole has been overwhelmed by the love of God for her and determined to give her life to Christ through baptism because she desperately wants to share her life with God each day.

Connor

Connor was baptized while on parole stipulations, sporting an ankle monitor while in the water. Before becoming a follower of Jesus, he was beset by drug addiction that hampered his relationships with people and got him into trouble with the law. Since encountering Jesus while incarcerated Connor has begun restoring relationships with family and carries a precious 3 year sobriety chip with him. Most conversations include tears of joy and gratitude for his fresh start.

Mariah

Mariah considered herself an atheist or agnostic most of her life. She loves people and cares deeply for the students at the school where she teaches. Christians used to seem unloving to her, until the witness of students in her classroom showed her a different kind of Christian. Becoming a mother and encountering testimony through Christian high school students made her see Jesus and Christianity in a new way. She still keeps an essay a Christian student wrote on the fruit of the Spirit years ago now. She chose to be baptized because she wanted to become a child of God and follower of Jesus.

Willow

Willow grew up in Africa around Christians, but was not a devoted practitioner herself. When the pandemic hit, she lost her brother and was deeply troubled by that grief. One night she dreamt of death coming for her and awoke trembling. Shaken up by the experience, she began to devote herself to Christian teaching and resolved to follow Jesus completely. Two years later she was able to immigrate to the United States where she became plugged in to our church family and was baptized. Willow now tries to be “all in” with Jesus and loves him immensely.

Eliza

Eliza had struggled with addiction before becoming a Christian. After the promptings and prayers of family friends she began attending church. On Easter she surrendered her life to Christ and was baptized soon after. She immediately began sharing about the new life she’d encountered through Jesus, sharing the gospel with a family friend who was not a believer. The very next baptism service after her own, Eliza was lighting a candle for the first person she helped bring to the Lord. She’s now leading others and continuing to grow in her new walk with Jesus.