baptism

Elijah has been asking us about his baptism.  When?  Why not now?  Can I?

Honestly, we wanted to make sure he was ready.  It's a big step that requires understanding.

Elijah accepted the Lord about 5 years ago.  He knows that Jesus died on the cross in his place because of the sin in his life.  He knows he needs Jesus and the sacrifice that He made some 2,000 years ago in order to have a relationship with God.

He began asking us about baptism after Joseph was baptized last year at Easter.

His inquiries really stepped up a notch in the past week as we were putting the final touches on our Palm Sunday service, where two new believers were to be baptized.

Shawn and Elijah came home Saturday evening, from the YMCA in Camp Curtin, after setting up the portable baptistry in the gymnasium for Sunday's service.  They asked to talk with me.  Shawn shared how Elijah was insistent on being baptized that next day.  Wow!!!

After Shawn gave me the nod indicating Elijah was definitely ready, I was thrilled!

Of course, this left no time to invite or plan for out-of-towners to be present.  Bummer.

We are sorry about that family and friends!

On such short notice, only Dinie (Shawn's mom) and Aunt Cindy were able to come out and witnessed the event on behalf of the others.  We were so thankful for their presence with us that evening.

Here's a few pictures from Elijah's big night!

 Just some of Elijah's buddies from the neighborhood came out to our service.

(L to R:  Bill, Dan, Joseph, Bobbie, Elijah and Dinie-Shawn's mom)

 The crowd!

 Billy introducing those to be baptized that evening

 What an honor for Shawn to be able to baptize Elijah!

 WooHoo!  And the crowd goes wild!!!!

Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into His death?

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as

Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should

walk in newness of life.  Romans 6:3,4

 Shawn is standing with two very special ladies.  On his left is Desiree.  She is the mother to 3 kids who come to our house often to play, Destyn, Ayesha and Bruce.  We were delighted that she brought her grandmother, Miss Lether, to the service.  I had the privilege of sitting next to her during the service.  I was so blessed by her worn out, high-lighted and marked up KJV bible!  She has been walking with the Lord almost her whole life.  She is 88 years young.  Her great-grandson, Destyn, has often spoken to me about her.  Telling me how she always has her bible open and reading and what a prayer warrior she is.  I'm grateful to have spent that evening beside her and can't wait to see her again!

Elijah, Daddy and I are so very proud of the decision you made to publicly proclaim your faith in Jesus Christ.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:2

For those of you who have asked, we did videotape the service and will have a clip of Elijah's baptism for you here soon enough.

Video, more pictures and details from the service to follow shortly on our Redeeming Grace PA website, which you can access here.