One of the things that sets us apart as Baptist from other types of churches is that we practice adult believer's baptism. This means that we are the type of church where people who choose to follow Christ are celebrated in that moment of decision with a good ole dunk in the water. For some in the Baptist tradition, this means going down to the river or lake, and for others like our church in Texas it meant filling up the old cow trough. For me personally, I was baptized on the North Shore of Oahu, because that was the body of water convenient for the church I grew up in. Many others too are baptized in their church's indoor baptismal—conveniently and sometimes comedically placed where all can see. But the body of water that you choose for the baptism isn't all that important. The sacredness is the same whether it is the ocean or a cow trough.
Baptism for us represents the moment of public declaration: I am choosing to follow Jesus Christ with my life. Sometimes it's hard to show what is going on in our hearts, but this is one of the physical ways of demonstrating it. It's a messy and beautiful moment of sharing our faith and hope together, and a moment of pure joy.
This Sunday, our worship will be in the chapel because we have the joy of baptizing two of our newest members: Stephanie and Kerry Hatcher. I for one am excited to celebrate their faith, their witness, and to celebrate their place in our church family. For this gift this Sunday, thanks be to God!