Fulfilling A Young Girl’s Dream
Today as I form these words, I do so with a sense of more responsibility and a deeper need to communicate with a huge world past my own church. I write today for all my non Christian friends that regularly read this Blog. I also write for the ones that are church attendees and understand some of the unique steps of faith.
As a pastor of ‘A Christian Church’ I have a unique role and responsibility. I watch the spiritual growth of people in our church and community. I witness the individual steps of each one – often being invited into their lives to encourage them. I see the struggles as well.
The position of ‘Pastor’ is one of responsibility that I do not take lightly.
In this role I listen and watch closely for clues that would help me to help the person that is taking the new step forward spiritually.
Now I know that there are many people that read this Blogspot that are not of the Christian Faith mixed with people that have a strong Christian Faith. To say the least it is one of the most interesting ‘congregations’ that I have ever ‘spoken’ to. I appreciate each one.
This short account may help the part of the non-Christian folk to catch a different aspect of the Christian faith. I hope that it will also encourage the Christians I am sure.
Further - the account that I share here is very personal for me and for the young lady that I am writing about.
The young lady is Emma, my granddaughter. She is nine years old. She is full of life – that includes all the things that young girls are…as the old saying goes, “sugar and spice and everything nice”. That sums up Emma nicely.
Emma and her family attend our church. I am Emma’s pastor as well as her Grandpa. I am also her dad and mom’s pastor, along with her brother Clifford. Her mom is my oldest daughter.
About 4 years ago when Emma was five years old she began asking many question about ‘faith’ and ‘God” – and how it all fits in her life. As a regular attendee of church along with having her mom & dad talk about spiritual things – her interest began to grow.
Further I need to explain, that one of the milestones for a Christian is Water Baptism. In our church we perform the Water Baptism by immersing each one in water. In our church this is accomplished by filling a large baptismal tank situated at the front of the church, to the rear area of the platform(stage). On a Sunday morning we pause in the church service to perform these baptisms – perhaps four times a year.
After someone has made a commitment of their life to Christ, inviting him to be a part of their life, they will confirm this new spiritual step by asking to be baptized in water. Baptism is one of the important doctrines of the Christian Faith that our church follows. And as a Pastor it is one of the joys of my ministry. It is a real celebration.
All that having been said, Emma began expressing a strong desire to be baptized in water. She wanted to do what the other folk have done as well. This first expression came four years ago, then three years ago and then two and very strongly last year.
This past Sunday, March 23, 2008, Emma realized her dream and was baptized in water – in our church.
Now the story behind this special baptism is larger still. She was baptized by her two Grandfathers, Rev. Murray Lincoln(me) and her other Grandfather, Rev. Doug Lindsay. But the special part didn’t stop with the fact that both her Grandfathers are ministers. These Grandfathers also participated in her ‘Baby Dedication’ nine years ago in the same church on the same weekend – Easter Sunday. But there was one more important thing – these same Grandfathers had performed the marriage for her dad and mom, in 1993.
In some faith groups ‘infant baptism’ is practiced. Our church rather has a practice of Baby(Infant) Dedication – leaving the Water Baptism for a later stage in life and for the individual’s personal decision to be involved.
Emma has arrived at this stage and last Sunday was her day.
Last Sunday was also Andrew’s day. Following Emma’s baptism, Andrew also was baptized. Andrew is 47 years old and has come to a new step in his faith walk as well – expressing that on Sunday too.
Why Baptism?
As a Christian we follow Christ and his example. One of the first things that Christ did was to be baptized by ‘John the Baptist’ – his cousin. John’s ministry was to call people to repentance and a new relationship with God. He also proclaimed that the ‘Messiah’ would be coming soon. He was one of the first to realize that Jesus, his cousin, was this Messiah.
With this special part of the story in mind – we baptize the followers of Jesus.
Last Sunday was special for Emma, and for her two Grandfathers – and her whole family. But I cannot fully explain how special it was for me. Celebration is the best word that I know today. My heart leaped as I stood with my granddaughter and my friend Doug.
To help a whole world come to Emma’s Baptismal Service – we prepared a video of the event. It is a testimony of one young girl’s dream being fulfilled. The ‘YouTube address’ of this event is shown below.
I encourage you to send this ‘address’ and tell your friends about Emma’s Baptism as well. Celebrate with us.
BTW – there will be another Baptismal Service in May 2008 – as interest has grown further. Are you interested?
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Emma’s Baptism – Easter Sunday – March 23, 2008
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDZSSy-7JTM
As a pastor of ‘A Christian Church’ I have a unique role and responsibility. I watch the spiritual growth of people in our church and community. I witness the individual steps of each one – often being invited into their lives to encourage them. I see the struggles as well.
The position of ‘Pastor’ is one of responsibility that I do not take lightly.
In this role I listen and watch closely for clues that would help me to help the person that is taking the new step forward spiritually.
Now I know that there are many people that read this Blogspot that are not of the Christian Faith mixed with people that have a strong Christian Faith. To say the least it is one of the most interesting ‘congregations’ that I have ever ‘spoken’ to. I appreciate each one.
This short account may help the part of the non-Christian folk to catch a different aspect of the Christian faith. I hope that it will also encourage the Christians I am sure.
Further - the account that I share here is very personal for me and for the young lady that I am writing about.
The young lady is Emma, my granddaughter. She is nine years old. She is full of life – that includes all the things that young girls are…as the old saying goes, “sugar and spice and everything nice”. That sums up Emma nicely.
Emma and her family attend our church. I am Emma’s pastor as well as her Grandpa. I am also her dad and mom’s pastor, along with her brother Clifford. Her mom is my oldest daughter.
About 4 years ago when Emma was five years old she began asking many question about ‘faith’ and ‘God” – and how it all fits in her life. As a regular attendee of church along with having her mom & dad talk about spiritual things – her interest began to grow.
Further I need to explain, that one of the milestones for a Christian is Water Baptism. In our church we perform the Water Baptism by immersing each one in water. In our church this is accomplished by filling a large baptismal tank situated at the front of the church, to the rear area of the platform(stage). On a Sunday morning we pause in the church service to perform these baptisms – perhaps four times a year.
After someone has made a commitment of their life to Christ, inviting him to be a part of their life, they will confirm this new spiritual step by asking to be baptized in water. Baptism is one of the important doctrines of the Christian Faith that our church follows. And as a Pastor it is one of the joys of my ministry. It is a real celebration.
All that having been said, Emma began expressing a strong desire to be baptized in water. She wanted to do what the other folk have done as well. This first expression came four years ago, then three years ago and then two and very strongly last year.
This past Sunday, March 23, 2008, Emma realized her dream and was baptized in water – in our church.
Now the story behind this special baptism is larger still. She was baptized by her two Grandfathers, Rev. Murray Lincoln(me) and her other Grandfather, Rev. Doug Lindsay. But the special part didn’t stop with the fact that both her Grandfathers are ministers. These Grandfathers also participated in her ‘Baby Dedication’ nine years ago in the same church on the same weekend – Easter Sunday. But there was one more important thing – these same Grandfathers had performed the marriage for her dad and mom, in 1993.
In some faith groups ‘infant baptism’ is practiced. Our church rather has a practice of Baby(Infant) Dedication – leaving the Water Baptism for a later stage in life and for the individual’s personal decision to be involved.
Emma has arrived at this stage and last Sunday was her day.
Last Sunday was also Andrew’s day. Following Emma’s baptism, Andrew also was baptized. Andrew is 47 years old and has come to a new step in his faith walk as well – expressing that on Sunday too.
Why Baptism?
As a Christian we follow Christ and his example. One of the first things that Christ did was to be baptized by ‘John the Baptist’ – his cousin. John’s ministry was to call people to repentance and a new relationship with God. He also proclaimed that the ‘Messiah’ would be coming soon. He was one of the first to realize that Jesus, his cousin, was this Messiah.
With this special part of the story in mind – we baptize the followers of Jesus.
Last Sunday was special for Emma, and for her two Grandfathers – and her whole family. But I cannot fully explain how special it was for me. Celebration is the best word that I know today. My heart leaped as I stood with my granddaughter and my friend Doug.
To help a whole world come to Emma’s Baptismal Service – we prepared a video of the event. It is a testimony of one young girl’s dream being fulfilled. The ‘YouTube address’ of this event is shown below.
I encourage you to send this ‘address’ and tell your friends about Emma’s Baptism as well. Celebrate with us.
BTW – there will be another Baptismal Service in May 2008 – as interest has grown further. Are you interested?
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Emma’s Baptism – Easter Sunday – March 23, 2008
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDZSSy-7JTM
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
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