Perfect Timing to Demonstrate His Death and Resurrection

Baptism is such a cool dramatization of Jesus' death and resurrection; leaving the old behind under the water and rising again into your new life in Christ in front of your family of Believers. When else do we do something so symbolic, with such meaningful imagery?

To celebrate His death and resurrection this Easter, we headed out of town about five hours into the mountains for our first retreat as a church. More than thirty of us played together, worshipped, competed on an obstacle course, roasted marshmallows, built community, studied the Bible, ministered to each other, and together practiced confession, forgiveness, and grace. It was an awesome weekend for so many reasons, but I'd have to say the highlight for me was when we ended the obstacle course swimming in the river and spontaneously offered to baptize anyone who was ready to make that statement of faith. At La Viña, we only baptize once or twice a year, but what better time than Easter to express your understanding of HIs gift by encapsulating it so succinctly and beautifully.

Baptisms are always exciting, watching new brothers and sisters in Christ make that public display of their decision to follow Jesus, but this one was a bit more special than most for me as Angie was the first one jumping up and down eager to be dunked. And I had the extreme pleasure of helping dunk her.

After Angie, four other adolescents from our youth ministry followed suit. And as a sweet surprise for us all, a young mom who's been working at the baby home as a sort of internship to prepare to have her toddler back in her life, jumped in as well. She's just recently become more open to us and to God, and I for one had no idea she was ready to commit her life to Christ. Her story is one of true transformation and hope, and everything that baptism symbolizes, it was perfect.

I asked Ange tonight, if there was anything she'd like to share about her baptism. She said it was the first time she'd ever been baptized and that she liked it very much. I sure hope she doesn't say something similar on her wedding day!