19 Things I Learned From Baptizing 19 People Sunday

6. People will drive half a state for a baptism. We had one teenager who was baptized who lives four hours away on the other side of the state. Her aunt is on staff with us and she’s been to our church numerous times over the years. It was amazing to see her family make the four hour drive to celebrate her baptism at our church.

7. Baptism is a great outreach event. We had more guests and visitors on Sunday then we’ve probably had since Easter. When you make baptism a big deal, people want to invite their friends and family to celebrate with them. And since most baptisms are new Christians, you have a lot of unchurched and dechurched people show up to watch, which is an incredible opportunity to share the gospel.

8. You’re never too old for baptism. Two adults in their 70s were baptized Sunday, and those were perhaps the most special to me. You see kids a lot, teenagers less, and adults even less when it comes to baptism. To see two Christian adults in their 70s follow through with baptism was absolutely inspiring.

9. Stories always matter. Even though we didn’t record any videos, we did write down a short four-sentence testimony about each one of them and read it out loud before their baptism. Why? Because stories matter. Stories give life and personality to the nameless individual being baptized, making it more meaningful for everyone.

10. It’s the ones you never expect that surprise you. There are some that have the look that life hasn’t treated them well, while others look like they grew up in church their whole life. One of the young adults I baptized Sunday has been someone who has attended church regularly for the past few years. On the outside they seemed perfectly put together and complete. On Baptism Sunday, they were an absolute wreck emotionally. I knew then that there is a much deeper story of hurt, pain and redemption that most people don’t know. You just wouldn’t guess by looking on the outside.