Based on your confession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit into the Lord Jesus Christ….arise in newness of life!
With these words, three brave souls endure the surprisingly not-chilly waters of Camp Bay this Sunday 7th January and are baptized in what is this church plant’s first set of baptisms.
The setting could not have been more idyllic. In the shadow of “Parson’s lodge”, a majestic battery dating back hundreds of years, a small cove in Gibraltar’s Camp Bay beach, no “beachlet”, provides an excellent vantage point for the 35 or so that have gathered to witness Lidia from La Linea, and husband and wife team Manolo and Pamela declare their faith in Christ and be baptized. We gather early, at noon, we hang around, I go over the order of the baptism service with those concerned and we review some scriptures together. Half way through our baptism class we get interrupted by an excited pastor’s wife exclaiming “Dolphins!”.
Sure enough two striped dolphins cruise rhythmically along the edge of the breakwater providing a pleasant reminder of a wonderful creation given to us by a wonderful creator. We stare and gaze as these majestic mammals swim by impervious of the prophetic act that these same waters are going to witness shortly.
Fathers and mothers start arriving in this a popular spot in Gibraltar to soak up some sun ray therapy whilst young toddlers peddle away on their bicycles or play a game of soccer in the enclosed court. We get a few curious stares as our worship leader Angel starts strumming away on his guitar and we all chime-in to praise songs with more heartfelt worship than acoustic skill. The Lord hears the heart, I comfort myself. Soon enough we are going full-swing, arms raised an’ all worshiping Jesus, and thanking our Father for a weather that could not have been made any better had I myself been handling the cosmic forces at play here.
The three ‘batizees’ are invited to share a little of their testimony, and I proceed to dedicate a baptismal verse to each and declare a word of blessing over each of them. “You are chosen to steward the blessing”……..”I feel you have been called to minister in the Mary anointing, having chosen the better part”……….”You have a calling to pursue the abundant life in Jesus, do not settle for anything less”.
We then step into the water and the three are baptized quickly…..this is not the time to hang around wet in the middle of cold and flu season in Gibraltar. A change of clothes in the beach’s changing rooms gets us good as new, and rejoicing for the goodness of God. Nothing better to top this all up than to have a fabulous fellowship meal together. We all proceed to the GGCA hall that we sometimes for these events, and eat together laugh and have a blast. Living Waters provides the food, drinks, a huge cake, and bibles for each of the dear ones baptized.
At this point faith rises up in me and I boldly declare, “this church is going to be holding baptisms every three months!” Make it so Lord.
pictures to follow shortly so watch this space!
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Baptism in the titles or in the name of Jesus is something I have been wrestling with in my studies for quite sometime. I recently came across your testimony with it’s scriptures and found that you put it in perspective the best. Others seem to want to fight which one is right and which is wrong. You layed it out for a person to make the decision on their own. And you have won my interest.
Like you, I was baptized at a young age……11 or 12 at a church camp. I think it was in the titles. I’m almost certain of it. I realize now I did it for the wrong reasons. I did it beacuse all my friends did it that week, it was an emotional time, and for years after that I strayed.
Recently, well about a year ago, I’ve receive Jesus back into my life. I said a prayer from an on line service and accepted Jesus back into my life. Since then, I have been on a search to find out about the “baptisms”……by water and by the indwelling of the holy spirit as evidence in speaking in tongues. Your testimony of the indwelling being the first was powerful. I also liked your point of receiving these gifts in his name but not being willing to be baptized in his name.
So for now, I’m looking to find someone who will baptize me. While that seems like a simple request, you have no idea how difficult it is. You see, I travel often. I leave on Sundays and get back on Thursdays. I’ve tried to find a church or a preacher when I am out of town but most want you to go through an interview process, or a 6 week class, or come back on the 3rd Sunday of every month.that’s when they have baptisms. One even told me they did this during a “baptism” season (September by the way). It’s surprisingly frustrating to say the least to find a place where our scheduales can match up. What’s sad, on occasion, I’m given a hotel room that has one of those large tubs in them. I’ve often wondered if that’s Gods way of telling me I can baptize myself. But, I don’t see any examples of that in my studies of the bible. The other thing is…the Philip and the Eunich……and other examples.it seemed like it all happend right away. No waiting. No interview process, no 3rd Sunday or every other month situation. Even in the words of the bible…..”that very night”.
I am serious about my salvation and I can tell you are too. Your words have been both an inspiration as well as an encouragement. I know the Lord will show me the right time and the right place for his “baptism’s”. Pray for me in my search. If you have any suggestions or comments, I would be interested in hearing from you.
In him,
Mark
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