Baptized.

Shout out to my girl, Na/Nomes/Naomi, who took pictures for me!

I’ve been walking with Jesus 14 years. Today, I got baptized. Here’s my story:

I grew up in a Christian home. My dad’s a pastor and has been my whole life. When I was 8, he did a gospel presentation for the kids’ group, and I “prayed the prayer” and asked Jesus into my heart. A bit later (on Valentine’s Day!) I was baptized. But I really struggled to understand what it really meant to have a personal relationship with the Lord. I also had these nagging doubts about whether or not I was really saved. I constantly wondered how a person could know for certain.

When I was 12, I went with my youth group on a D-NOW retreat over Mardi Gras break at ABC (Acadian Baptist Center, baby!!). During worship, I saw people, eyes closed, hands raised, just enjoying the presence of the Lord. On the last morning, during our quiet times, I just said, “God, I want what those people have. I want you to be real to me. I want you to be my best friend.” And in that moment he opened my eyes. That’s when I mark the beginning of my walk with the Lord.

I wasn’t baptized after that, and it always bothered me. I don’t believe that baptism is essential to salvation, but I do think it’s a really important statement of faith. I told myself a few years back that if there was an opportunity to get baptized at some point, I would. Several weeks ago, I heard that there were going to be baptisms at Vineyard,  and I just felt like I was meant to do it.

Got this little surprise when I came in!!

As I started thinking about it more, I thought of a few solid reasons to rationalize the feeling I had.

• First, I think it’s an important symbol. Like communion, it’s a statement of faith, a reminder to myself, and a public declaration of what’s happened inside.
• Second, I’m an adult now. I really understand what I’m doing and why. Plus, Jesus was 30 when he was baptized, and I think he makes a pretty good example. (Also, we were both dunked by dudes called JOHN!)
• Third, like I said, I don’t think that this is essential to being a Christian. But I do feel like it’s an important part of the faith tradition in which I was raised. We believe in Believer’s Baptism, and that’s something I wanted to honor.

Now that I’ve done it, I’m incredibly happy that I did! It was a bit nerve-wracking, but sharing what Jesus has done in my life with all of my wonderful church family here in Hull was SUCH a blessing! And they were, as always, so encouraging and so lovely and gave me lots of cheers and hugs and smiles.

Some of my sweet Vineyard family at the pub!

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