This Sunday, we will be celebrating the Baptism of the Lord. As a part of this worship service, members will be reaffirming their baptismal vows. They will not be baptized again. As Methodists, we believe in infant baptism so that our brothers and sisters are brought into the Christian family early in their lives. It certainly doesn't mean that if someone is not baptized as ababy that they can't be baptized later in life. Once someone has been baptized, we do not have them baptized again. Even if someone may have strayed from the faith, and comes back, they may be "born again," but it wouldn't involve another baptism. Christ welcomes us all back, no matter how long or how often we might stray.
I think it is important that we remember the vows that we took, or more likely, the vows that were taken for us. It helps us to remember what we are asked to do as members of the body of Christ. I hope you can make it for this!
Guest Speaker
This Sunday, we will also be having a guest speaker. His name is Jerry Wallendal. He will be preaching. Here is his bio:
Jerry Wallendal currently serves as the Director of Ministries for YFC/Fresh Start, a division of Youth for Christ. He and his wife Pastor Leota Wallendal also head up Kingdom Harvest Ministries International, a ministry which shares the uncompromised word of God and reaches out to our community. Jerry was delivered from 25 years of addiction to drugs and alcohol in 1996 when he became a born again Christian. God quickly started to use Jerry as he has ministered from the young (teaching in Sunday school) to the old (preaching in nursing homes). God has blessed Jerry with the gift of evangelism and used him to bring hundreds to a relationship with Jesus Christ and the ministry of YFC/Fresh Start has seen over a thousand commitments to Christ. Jerry has spoken to youth groups, ministered in the several prisons, as well as preached at churches of various denominations. Jerry has a vision for unity in the body of Christ, for revival to sweep across this land, and for the church to truly fulfill the Great Commission by going outside our church walls to reach the lost. His messages are challenging, thought-provoking, and are packed with the Word of God.
I have met with Jerry before, and I am amazed about his ministry. He has really made a difference in the lives of many youths in the area. I hope you are able to hear him speak.
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