Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Our First Baptism!

Sunday night we had a fantastic time at Hope Baptist!

When I got back from Carnival Camp Wednesday afternoon I was promptly informed that our portable baptistery was no longer in condition to hold water.  The wood had degraded to the point that we were due for a sudden flood.

I gave the design to a member of Faith Baptist who lives in the neighborhood and runs a cabinet making shop.  By Saturday afternoon he had assembled a replica of the former baptistery and we set it up after adult Sunday school and started to fill it with a few cubic meters of water.  Mateus, my engineering student was helping with this.  He did some quick calculations of weight and pressure that said “Be afraid, be very afraid.”  I had this mental image of a loud crack and sudden flood washing people out the back door.

As the song service got into full swing people started arriving until almost all of our seats were taken up.  We only seat 65 and ended up with 52 in the service.  Fully 27 of them were first time visitors.

I preached a message on the meaning of believer’s baptism and the gospel from Acts 16. The baptistery held water, no loud crack, no sudden flood.  All went well and the Lord blessed.  Michael and Monica are now members of Hope Baptist.

Monica and her father.  Her dad came right up to watch.  The look on their faces needs no comment.

Monica Dias Santos

Michael Xavier de Araujo

Hugs

Thanks for your prayers,

Mac