For years we thought that even if our children wanted to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and surrender to His Kingship over their lives, we would encourage them to hold off on baptism for a while. This was because we wanted to make sure it was 1. a genuine conversion with true understanding, not something just to please others and 2. so they could remember it well and celebrate it as it should be.
Josie actually approached us when she was in second grade and shared with us that she wanted to know Jesus and have all of her sins taken away. She was actually ok with waiting for baptism because she was kind of afraid to go in front of the church and have all that attention.
A few months later Caleb initiated some spiritual conversation with me and the result of that conversation was understanding that sin had made him dead and he needed Jesus to rescue him. However, he was adamant that he be baptized the very next Sunday.
We thought he would "chill out" on the topic, but he was relentless. When Josie saw this, she said it would make her brave to be baptized with her brother. So Wesley and I prayed and talked and felt like they were ready and could be baptized after they took the class required by our church. (Of course, I was thrilled because Wesley and I taught the class!)
We had always told them that baptism was the most important day of their lives--more than birthdays, more than graduation, and even more than marriage. So, it was time to put our money where our mouth was.
Since our church meets in an old theatre, they had to bring in a tub. The water was icy!
The first two minutes of this video shows both kids sharing a brief story of their decision to be baptized.
We bought them both new clothes to wear after the baptism. This was to represent:
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Ephesians 4:24, "...put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
We reserved the whole restaurant upstairs, and with help from our family, catered the whole meal. The kids invited a few of their friends, and we invited our family and friends as well. Many of our beloved college students who have watched Josie and Caleb grow up came and participated.
Each of the kids picked a special song and our friends Lily and Trey sang them.
Wesley and I anointed the kids' foreheads with oil. Although it is not common in our tradition, we adopted this from other, more liturgical traditions. It represents:
1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
2 Corinthians 1:20-22, "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
Wesley, both of our dads, and our friend Miles prayed a blessing over Caleb.
My mom, my Mother-in-law, our friend Mary Margaret and I prayed over Josie.
And we celebrated!
We also hired a photographer to take professional pictures. (I'm telling you, we wanted our kids to understand that this event is WORTH every penny spent and second of time planning.)
I had to throw this picture in. The are just a few of "my girls". They mean the world to me, have been truly impactful in Josie's life, and beautiful examples of the kind of young woman I hope my son will someday marry.
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