Elaine’s Baptism

On March 11, 2018 Elaine made a very important step in her spiritual growth.  It was an answer to a prayer I have been praying over the space of a couple of years.  Elaine asked to be baptized.  We had talked through baptism on several occasions, but always felt as if she didn’t understand completely, or as though her motives were wrong.  We didn’t push, but we prayed.  Elaine was in the Sunday morning service when Pastor Bickel announced an upcoming baptism.  She came to me and asked if she could be baptized.  We talked through things again and it was different this time.  Elaine called Pastor Bickel to talk to him.  He sent her a packet of information that she had to read and complete before she could be baptized.  It included a written testimony of salvation, and also several passages to look up and study to be sure that the picture and purpose of baptism was understood.

Elaine completed her packet and submitted it to Pastor Bickel.  He approved her for baptism, and gave Ben the choice of baptizing her.  We left this choice with Elaine, and she chose to have Pastor Bickel perform her baptism.  As it turned out, Elaine was the only candidate for baptism.  Pastor Bickel was kind enough to go forward with the service just for Elaine, since we were soon beginning our own services in the Bronx and wouldn’t be able to have him do Elaine’s baptism after that.  Ben’s parents and sister were able to join us, as well as the Lewis family from our church plant in the Bronx. 

Elaine was quite nervous about giving her testimony in public.  She has reluctantly done special music at church before, and she is very shy to be in front of people.  We made this a big matter of prayer.  She practiced her testimony, and we left it with the Lord.  She didn’t look up much while speaking (she had found an object to focus on and didn’t move her gaze), but she spoke clearly and gave a great testimony of how and when she was saved.  I was so glad to see how God worked in her heart to want to be baptized, and then gave her the courage to go through with it when it was scary to her. 

While baptism doesn’t wash away our sin or gain us favor in God’s eyes, it is a clear testimony and picture of what Christ has done on our behalf – he was crucified, buried, and rose again.  Because of HIS work on the cross and in resurrection, we have the ability to die to self, and walk in new life with Christ.  It is also following Christ’s example, when He was baptized by John the Baptist.  It is a step of obedience, and a necessary component of church membership (in the early church in Acts, people were saved, baptized, and added to the church).

It was thrilling to see Elaine as a young five year old girl, sitting on the couch and praying with her Daddy to ask Jesus to be her personal Savior.  It was thrilling to her share this experience with her church family in clear, bold words.  It is thrilling to know that God is working in her young heart, and that she wants to do what pleases Him, and what He asks of her, even when it is uncomfortable.  It will be thrilling to see how He continues to use her in the future as she walks ever closer with her God.

 Giving her testimony 

 “On the profession of your faith…and your desire to follow Him in obedience, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”  

 “…buried with Him in baptism…” 

 “…and raised to walk in newness of life…” 

I love you Elaine!  So very proud of you!