It was not just Sunday, but also a special day for several people as they were going to make their commitment to Jesus openly known. And the best part is, I will be helping these people with making these declarations known. After I change into a long, white robe, I meet with everyone else, all wearing the same white robe.
"Good morning, Pastor Max!" There they all stood. Luchia, Hanon, Rina, Karen, Noel, Coco, Hippo, Nikora, and Nagisa were all going to be baptized this morning.
"Good morning, everyone! I hope you are all ready to take the next step towards cementing a relationship with Jesus Christ. After all, we are called to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Before we start, does anyone have any questions?" I had briefed them about how this works just before, so it seems that they all understood. I then lead them in prayer.
"Dear Heavenly Father, we just want to thank you for this wonderful day, and for the opportunity we have to come together to fellowship with our congregation and glorify you as we present our witness about how you alone changed our lives. Lord, we not only pray for ourselves, but we also pray that you open the eyes and ears of these people to discern these testimonies, so then they too can reflect on their relationship with you. May you use these young folks to be able to bring Biblically-based wisdom and discernment among their neighbors. Lord, we thank you for all these things and pray in your holy name. Amen."
One of the ushers then cued us to get ready. "You guys are ready to start."
"Perfect! You guys will be called up, so listen for your name. The usher will guide you up to me in the tank." I then step out into the baptismal tank to greet the congregation.
"Good morning, folks! Thank you for being an important part of these folks' day as they come out and dedicate their lives to serving the Lord! First, let us welcome up Luchia Nanami." Luchia then walks up into the baptismal tank and begins to read her testimony.
"Hey everyone, my name is Luchia Nanami and today I am here to tell you about my new relationship with the Lord. Growing up, I knew a few Christian friends, but never really thought much about God or the Bible, let alone salvation. I always thought of myself as a good person in other people's eyes. Clearly, there is more to living than seeking the approval of others, but rather that God has given us each a purpose to glorify Him alone. I realized this at the foot of the cross, that there was nothing I could do myself to save myself from my sins, but that Jesus was the only one who could save me, for He alone is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). I would also like to thank God for bringing Pastor Max into my life, for he has been a wise and discerning Bible teacher. Praise God for all things!"
Luchia then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Luchia, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Luchia back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Hanon Hosho." Hanon then walked into the baptismal tank to read her testimony.
"Hi everyone, my name is Hanon Hosho and I want to tell you about my walk with God. All my life, I was steeped in vanity. Whether it was fashion, relationships, or shopping, I thought I had it all as I looked to worldly things and made it my identity. Fortunately, none of those things are what I look to for salvation anymore, but rather I can have peace in our everlasting God. It was said in The Word, 'Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).' I too am also thankful that God put Pastor Max in my life, for he has shown me just how much God loves me just as I am. Thank you, God!"
Hanon then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Hanon, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Hanon back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Rina Toin." Rina then walked into the baptismal tank to read her testimony.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Rina Toin and I am here today to tell you about the amazing work that God has done in my life. For a long time, I had a reputation from being an honor roll student, which meant that I always thought that I was the smartest person in the room. Unfortunately, this blinded me to my own sinful inclinations and only led me away from the Lord. I thought that because nobody could understand me, that everyone had given up on me as a person. Clearly, God hasn't, for which I will say: 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust (Psalm 91:2).' I am also thankful for Pastor Max as a spiritual teacher and advisor, for if it weren't for his guidance, I would never come to understand and appreciate the truth of The Word. Praise God!"
Rina then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Rina, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Rina back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Karen Aiiro." Karen then walked into the baptismal tank to read her testimony.
"Hi, my name is Karen Aiiro and I wish to share my testimony with you today. For my whole life, I always quite headstrong. I had an independent streak in me, where I always felt like I had to do everything myself. However, this attitude nearly broke me not long ago, when my twin sister was kidnapped, and I was desperate to find her. It was during this time that I thought that I could trust in myself, which sent me into a dark place emotionally. Fortunately, God had other plans for me. It was in the Word where Job proclaimed: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).' I am also thankful for Pastor Max, for if he never met my friends, they would've never been able to share the Gospel with me and I would still be trapped in darkness. Praise the Lord for what He's done for me!"
Karen then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Karen, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Karen back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Noel Aiiro." Noel then walked into the baptismal tank to read her testimony.
"Hello, my name is Noel Aiiro and I'm glad that you can come and hear my testimony. Yes, it is true that I was recently kidnapped. I don't remember much of it, but I was clearly in a dark place. Before this, I had a happy life with my twin, but now realize just how badly sin and darkness have a grip on this world. I am forever grateful that God used Pastor Max to reach out to my friends, because God alone gave them all the strength they needed to find me. My friends also edified me in the Word, so then I can put on the whole armor of God and be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Praise the Lord for freeing me from this bondage!"
Noel then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Noel, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Noel back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Coco Sinari." Coco then walked into the baptismal tank to read her testimony.
"Hi everyone! My name is Coco Sinari and I'm so stoked about what God has done for me! Growing up, I had no idea that that there was anything greater than the things that I immediately knew of. However, over the past week I realized that because of what happened with my friends, that there is something greater in this world than us, that there is a God who cares about you so much that he gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Seeing how God has used Pastor Max and my friends to proclaim the Gospel's truth is just amazing to me. I can't wait to be able to serve God in all ways possible!"
Coco then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Coco, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Coco back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Nikora Nanami." Nikora then walked into the baptismal tank to read her testimony.
"Hello everyone, I am Nikora Nanami and I am glad to be able to share my testimony today. Throughout my life, my main focus was my work. Now that I run a hotel, this is what I lived every day. However, it was when God placed Pastor Max at our hotel a few weeks ago that I noticed the changes in heart of those he personally touched. As I had more chances to interact with Pastor Max, I began to look more into the Word to see what he was talking about. It was last week's church service here that I realized that the Lord is my ultimate refuge from the things of this world; after all, God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). I am grateful for how God has changed my life over the past few weeks."
Nikora then walks over to me and I take hold of her. "Nikora, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Nikora back above the water, there is a deep excitement on her face, and she's ecstatic with joy as she leaves the tank.
"Next up, Hippo." Hippo then walked into the baptismal tank to read his testimony.
"Hi guys! Everyone calls me Hippo, and I want to share with you how God has transformed me! It all began when my friends and I met Pastor Max. He was saying things I didn't quite understand at the time, but by the grace of God and the teaching of Pastor Max that I came to know just how much God loves me. So now, my spirit rejoices in God my savior (Luke 1:47) and deliverer. God is so great!"
Hippo then walks over to me and I take hold of him. "Hippo, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Hippo back above the water, there is a deep excitement on his face, and he's ecstatic with joy as he leaves the tank.
"Next up, Nagisa Shirai." Nagisa then walked into the baptismal tank to read his testimony.
"Hi, my name is Nagisa Shirai, and I'm here to share my testimony. I never knew much about God growing up, nor did I care much about it. It wasn't until I heard more about this from my friends recently that I began to think about it more. I had a realization when I read 'we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28),' and I realized that I had a specific purpose in life as endowed by God. I therefore wish to honor God, not just through the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, but also through all that I do every day. Praise God for His revelation!"
Nagisa then walks over to me and I take hold of him. "Nagisa, do you profess faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"
"I do."
"Based on your profession of faith, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. United in death and raised with Him." As I lift Nagisa back above the water, there is a deep excitement on his face, and he's ecstatic with joy as he leaves the tank. I then address the congregation afterwards.
"Well folks, this is everyone being baptized today. Praise the Lord for transforming them in His image and using their testimonies to edify those around them. Let's give them a final round of applause!" The congregation clapped for them, and then we prayed for these guys.
"Dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this wonderful opportunity we had to come together and witness your power to transform and renew these folks. God, I pray that their testimonies may lift up and encourage those here to watch them, so they can be reminded that you alone provide for everyone. I also play that you may be with them as they go out into this world to preach the truth of your Word, and that you may make disciples of them among the nations. Lord, we thank you and pray this all in your holy name. Amen."