Stories tagged with: baptism

• Ponds, lakes, oceans, pools: Baptism around the world

  by Rachel Cohen, posted Monday, March 25, 2019 (3 months ago)

  

  RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- A number of years ago, a man named Philip had an encounter with an official from Africa. After Philip shared the Gospel with him, the official believed in Christ and desired to be baptized. The two men came to the only body of water at their disposal -- presumably a stream or pond -- and the official was baptized in front of an audience of One.

  In 21st-century America, baptisms often look quite different. Although the outward demonstration of faith is the same, many are immersed in a baptistery situated at the front of our church, maybe even in heated water. Read More

• Sisters, church bond through baptisms, 'revival'

  by Brian Blackwell/Baptist Message, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (6 months ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  ETHEL, La. (BP) -- Donna Rylee and Ruthie Taylor have celebrated many happy times as sisters, but both are adamant that no other moment they have shared can surpass the joy both felt during their joint baptism at Providence Number One Baptist Church in Ethel.

  As pastor Cedric Murphy baptized each in September the two women beamed with excitement about the spiritual journey they have shared.

  "When he issued an altar call the Sunday before, we both walked up without hesitation," Rylee said. "For the first time in a couple of years I have this joy in my heart again. Now, I can look at my family members who are here sitting together on a Sunday, including my grandson Norman who was baptized two Sundays after us, and know we will be together in Heaven one day." Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: A wounded warrior's baptism

  by Jeff Iorg, posted Wednesday, December 12, 2018 (7 months ago)

  Jeff Iorg recounts the baptism of a wounded warrior by a pastor who was sensitive to the veteran's struggle with PTSD. Read More

• 22 baptized, overflow room used as church adds campus

  by Sarah Davis/Arkansas Baptist News, posted Tuesday, August 21, 2018 (11 months ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  JONESBORO, Ark. (BP) -- Twenty-two people were baptized, and an overflow room was used during the launch service of a new campus of Central Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ark., at Greene County Tech High School in Paragould.

  "This was our first Sunday. We were in an auditorium that seats 999 people, and we had 1,055 people there," said Breck Freeman, administrative pastor of Central Baptist Church and former associate missions team leader at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. "We had an overflow room.... That was one of the most amazing things."

  "We had 15 people scheduled for baptism, but seven people who had already been saved came forward to be baptized," Freeman said of the Aug. 12 launch. Read More

• 10,000 baptisms: Pastor sets milestone

  by Robin Cornetet/Kentucky Today , posted Tuesday, July 24, 2018 (one year ago)

  

  Photo by Robin Cornete/Kentucky Today

  BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP) -- Kentucky pastor Steve Ayers has reached a milestone that has Christians across the state taking notice: 10,000 baptisms since he arrived at Hillvue Heights Church.

  Since becoming pastor of the Bowling Green congregation in 1991, Ayers has seen the church grow from 30 people into a megachurch where 5,000 people regularly attend Sunday morning services.

  "The evangelistic success of Hillvue is nothing short of miraculous," Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood said. "We celebrate every soul saved and pray God gives a harvest of 10,000 more." Read More

• In Miami, multiple cultures to gather as 'One Family'

  by Nicole Kalil, posted Friday, May 04, 2018 (one year ago)

  

  Photo provided by the Florida Baptist Convention

  MIAMI (BP) -- The sandy beaches of Key Biscayne will serve as an inspiring picture of South Florida as people from multiple races, cultures, ethnicities and generations unite for a day of picnics and festivities at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Saturday, May 5.

  The groups are part of multicultural Florida Baptist churches in the area that are working to build bridges between the different ethnic communities in Miami and Dade County. Read More

• 350-plus baptized in 'One GRAND Sunday' in Illinois

  by Illinois Baptist Staff, posted Thursday, April 19, 2018 (one year ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  STAUNTON, Ill. (BP) -- Volunteers carried a livestock feeding trough April 8 into the high school gymnasium where NET Community Church meets each Sunday.

  The trough had a lofty purpose as 11 people were baptized during morning worship, each wearing T-shirts with the words "going public."

  "Their life stories were all very different, but their life conversion was the same," said Derrick Taylor, pastor of NET Community. "It was so exciting to witness each one 'going public' with their new lives in Christ, thus declaring 'I'm not ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ!'" Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: The Lord's Supper & our baptisms

  by Nate Adams, posted Wednesday, March 07, 2018 (one year ago)

  Nate Adams suggests that the Lord's Supper -- optimally encompassing intimate fellowship and worship, confession of sin, gratitude for Christ's sacrifice and motivation to live for Him -- could kindle "a dramatic effect" on baptisms. Read More

• Pastor's near-death experience intensifies Gospel focus

  by Robin Cornetet/Kentucky Today, posted Wednesday, October 11, 2017 (one year ago)

  

  Photo by Robin Cornetet/Kentucky Today

  BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (BP) -- After surviving a fiery explosion that nearly killed him, Kentucky megachurch pastor Steve Ayers said he's a changed man, having come out of the ordeal laser-focused on Jesus and telling others about the Gospel before it's too late.

  "I was committed to evangelism before the accident," said Ayers, senior pastor of the 16,000-member Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, which routinely baptizes more than 500 new believers a year. "I'm completely committed to evangelism now because truly, at your last breath, nothing else matters." Read More

• Mass baptism displays rural church's turnaround

  by Roger Alford/Kentucky Today, posted Tuesday, September 26, 2017 (one year ago)

  

  Photo by Roger Alford/Kentucky Today

  HYDEN, Ky. (BP) -- Not so long ago, Rockhouse Baptist Church was floundering.

  The congregation in Hyden, Ky., had dwindled to about 25 people. Some wondered how much longer they could keep the doors open.

  Then pastor Tyler Shields moved into town, bringing with him a passion for introducing others to Christ. And Rockhouse experienced a dramatic turnaround. Read More