So, last weekend…there’s not much to say but WOW! Crossroads, the awesome church I serve with in Cincinnati, had baptism services this weekend. And, since I was a part of the group that got baptized last October I was asked to serve (well, that, and the fact that the fantastic architect of this was my roommate from the GO Mumbai trip last February!). The Lord challenged me to be there for all 5 services (2 Saturday, 3 Sunday) and I lept at the chance.
There were so many beyond amazing people who came to receive Jesus. It was an open call, but there were some people who had signed up in advance and knew that they were getting dunked. To watch the Holy Spirit do His thang is always a glorious experience, but I had an amazing birds-eye, on-the-stage point of view for this one. (Yes, I will use the word amazing possibly 4 more times in this post!).
You may think that sitting through 5 services with the same music, the same lesson, the same pool, the same stage set-up would get droning. HOWEVER, Chuck Mingo, our teaching pastor (who is generally fantastic anyway!) grew more and more overcome with the Holy Spirit that was present harder and harder at each service. And, to see Him grow all over our teacher, visibly!, was so amazing!).
I was also doublely blessed because for 3 of the 5 services, I got to be the person on the top of the stage, waiting with the .people who were getting ready to go in the pool. AMAZING!!! The stories…one girl had been feeling like she was supposed to get baptized and fought it…she got all the way out to her car at the end of the service and could not leave the parking lot. She came back in, put on the black t-shirt and recieved Jesus. Another lady stood next to me waiting her turn, tense (her shoulders were hovering somewhere near the top of her ears and she wasn’t technically breathing…thankfully, I reminded her that she didn’t have to hold her breath until she was baptized…). She explained to me that never in her whole life had she been sure of anything, convicted that anything was right for her. Making decisions and choices were a struggle beyond words. But, sitting in her seat during the service, God called her…He told her that He wanted her and she completely submitted to Him. There were families of 3 and 4 who got dunked together. There were people who met in line who decided that they wanted to be baptized together (and, if the nudge was from God, there were at least two dating/marriage relationships in the works for these folks!). There was a dad with his 2 kids who happened to be in line with another boy who was maybe 8 and they asked him if he wanted to join their family for the baptism, so they all went together. I could recount this for hours, but I think you get the jist!
There were smiles, tears, silence, hugs, support…all the stuff you ‘expect’ to see…but when the Holy Spirit is orchestrating it, it becomes a magical, miraculous blessing. Amazing!
(And, just in case you didn’t get it…374 people received Jesus as their Lord and Savior through this baptism last weekend!)
Welcome to the family…we are SO GLAD you joined us!!!!!
