This past Sunday our Church gathered on the shore of the Black Sea for the baptism of four people. What a privilege it was for Pastor Vadim and I to go into the waters with these two young men and two young women who want to publicly declare their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sadly most young men today are more dedicated to their gaming accounts than they are to their God and young women are more interested in getting Instagram followers than they are in following after the Eternal One. Yet, we do not lose hope because our God is greater than our games and more worthy of following than some social network. These young people are proof that the Holy Spirit is still at His old work. Changing hearts in a way only He can.
On the beach many sun-worshippers watched while we walked into the water fully clothed to their shock! Thankfully it’s still warm here, about 85f that morning and the water was nearly that temperature too.
For me every baptism is new, each person a unique story of God’s saving power, I never tire of it. It’s like God telling us again and again,
I still have the power to give faith, to heal hearts, to break the power of sin and darkness!
In baptism we publically and boldly declare the central, unique, and defining factor of Christianity; faith in the Jesus Christ! This is exactly what these four people did as we asked them
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior?
After the morning baptism as the Sea we headed back to Church for the service. I had the privilege of preaching about the mission and foundation of the Church.
“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
1Ti 3:14-16
Will you pray with us that these newly baptized members will remain strong in their faith and daily grow closer to their God?
