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Church NewsMinistry Highlights

Church Celebrates Baptism in River

By September 16, 2014October 17th, 2014No Comments

LITHbaptism_inline2LAKE IN THE HILLS, Ill.—A special baptismal service took place at New Life Baptist Church. It was the first time the church had held a baptism in the Fox River in Algonquin, near the church.

“It was a bright, sunny day at the end of the summer when we gathered together to hear the testimonies and witness the baptisms of 13 different individuals,” says Pastor Mark Wood. Those being baptized ranged in age from 11 to late 60s and included two couples and two sets of mothers and daughters.

“In spite of the sun, wind, chill of the water and waves from passing boats, this was a very special day for each of these individuals,” Wood says. “They were excited to publicly declare their faith in Christ and follow the Lord in believer’s baptism.”

Dawn, who was baptized that day, had come to faith in Christ only a few months earlier. She had faced many difficult situations in her life and felt she couldn’t trust anyone, including God. Wood says, “Through the faithful witness of one of our church families, the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, and our loving church family, God worked in her heart and she was gloriously saved.”

The baptismal service took place outside Dawn’s house. Wood shares how that location came about: “A week before the service, the planned location for the baptism on the Fox River fell through. That was a huge blow to us, as we had all these people eager to be baptized. About that time, I remembered that Dawn owned a home located on the other side of the river not far from our original location. I asked her if it would be possible to hold the baptism at her house. She was thrilled to offer her place. As it turned out, she ended up power-washing and painting the whole decking area for where we would end up meeting for the service. Later she told me that now she knows why she purchased her place 12 years ago—just so that she could be baptized in her own backyard.”