Acts 2:38-41 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

On Sunday, August 10th a sense of celebration moved through the church grounds. The celebration was not for the warm food cooking on the grille, the worship music floating through the air, nor the message shared by Pastor Pancho. The true celebration and festivities were for our brothers and sisters who publicly made a declaration in the name Jesus Christ through the act of baptism. Christian baptism, according to the Bible, is an outward testimony of what has occurred inwardly in a believer's life. Christian baptism illustrates a believer's identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The Bible declares, "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4 NIV). In Christian baptism, the action of being immersed in the water pictures being buried with Christ and coming out of the water pictures Christ's resurrection.

Over 100 congregants gladly took the "plunge" and were blessed by the family, friends and pastors who were there to authenticate their baptism. After the baptism, the CCM youth worship band rocked the night away as many stayed to enjoy a delicious summer barbeque.

Next baptism: winter 2008