I recently got baptized on the World Race, while here in the Philippines. Here are my thoughts on the whole thing.
I never wanted to get baptized again. My mom had me baptized as a baby, and that was a nice decision on her part. A dedication of a newborn baby’s life to God and all that. It meant a lot to her but it never really meant anything to me, especially since I can’t remember it. And whenever they talked about baptism in youth group growing up, i thought it was kinda weird. You had to take some class, which made you an adult and part of the church or something, and then you get the right to be baptized in front of the church with a little sprinkle of tap water. Why do I have to do this? I wasn’t feeling it. The whole thing seemed kinda bogus to me, and i just thought of it as a silly tradition of the old church. And when i saw kids my age getting baptized and nothing about their lives was any different, it made it seem even more meaningless. It’s like “Oh you got baptized bro? your mom must be so happy…”
Then I decided to dedicate my life to God. I gave up my old way of life, and came out on the World Race. Some of you know my story, which means you know how big of a deal it was for me to make that decision. While out on the race, a few of my squad mates decided to get baptized. They talked about it as making a public declaration of your decision to follow Christ, and a symbol of becoming a new creation in Him. I liked that. That sounded more like it. Suddenly baptism isn’t just some empty tradition our parents make us do when we graduate from sunday school, it’s actually a really meaningful symbol of your new life in Christ.
So at this point…I’m interested.
So i think it’s cool that some of my friends are getting baptized, but I’m not completely sold on the idea. Im trying to find excuses to not do it. I keep thinking I need the right place, it’s gotta feel right, blah, blah, blah. But there is one thing God is making very clear to me.
“YOU’RE GETTING BAPTIZED ON THE RACE” 
So we went to a church one fateful sunday, and I hear God telling me over and over again “Hey…you’re gonna get baptized. You gotta get baptized.” And I’m thinking “Well I’m living at a children’s home that doesn’t even have a shower, and i can’t really be baptized in a bucket… where am I gonna find a place with enough water? The beach is pretty far and there aren’t many prospects of me getting there.” Sooo…it didn’t seem like it was happening.
LITERALLY the next day, we had something of a day off. We went out with the Children’s Garden boys to this majestic Waterfall.
We go swimming and have a great time, and then it finally hit me like a bag of bricks. God’s just like “I found you some water…” So i decide to get baptized right then and there, by my friend Joe, with my team and the boys from Children’s Garden in the water with me. It was an amazing moment.
Getting baptized wasn’t just me following the traditions of old, and doing what I thought I was supposed to do. Though He does tell us in the bible to be baptized, and that was a part of why I did it. For me it was about making a statement to everyone I know, that from now on my life is dedicated to Christ, and the plan He has for my life. No more living for myself. It’s all about Him, and I want everyone to know, cause it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
