Sunday morning, February 22, Pastor David Busic gave a brief message on baptism and invited anyone who had not been baptized to be baptized on the spot. In two morning services 173 people responded.
The topic of the morning message had not been announced and the congregation was not expecting a baptism service. Although the response was spontaneous, a great deal of planning took place behind the scenes to provide baptism clothing and towels. Pastor Busic told the congregation, "If you have a change of heart, we have a change of clothes."
"I was so proud of our people," said Pastor Busic. "We were not sure what to expect, but all generations responded including grandparents with their grandchildren, husbands with their wives, teens, the elderly, whole families, church board members as well as several pastors. One woman who was saved in the first service was baptized in the second."
Those in the congregation who had already been baptized verbally reaffirmed their baptism. "I believe the congregation's simple act of obedience will enable God's Spirit to work deeply among us," said Busic. "I have never seen or been part of anything like what happened. This is certainly a day we will always remember."
The following week, requests began pouring in to the church from more individuals who wanted to be baptized. On March 8, we put aside our plans, Pastor David postponed his sermon, and we baptized 97 people.
The most senior candidate was a 90 year-old gentleman who had been in the church his entire life, but had never been baptized.
Waves of stories are coming in. Thanks to everyone who has told us of your experiences and observations from that day. I believe the stories of what God is doing among us are still being written. The Lord honors the personal and communal obedience of his people. That is how revivals break out and lives are transformed You can still send us your impressions from that day. Here is a sampling of the testimonies:
+ + +
"It was truly a shared sacrament. Even though I wasn't baptized on Sunday, it was like with every baptism I was being washed, cleansed, and renewed all over again. "
+ + +
"I stayed for both services because I didn't want to miss one moment."
+ + +
"I have attended BFC all my life and have seen many wonderful things across the years. But I have never seen a movement of God and an anointing on his people like I did last week."
+ + +
"I can't get over the faces of the baptized as they came out of the water. God's love was washed over them."
+ + +
"When you gave the call to be baptized, there was no hesitation on my part. I started emptying my pockets and went to hand them to my wife when she said, 'I'm going down too.' My first thought was 'who is going to watch my stuff now?' That lasted about a second, and I just tossed everything on the floor and followed."
+ + +
"I walked into the service late on Sunday, but was quickly struck by the unique spirit in the service. I had thought about baptism for years but had convinced myself that while it was a great experience for some, it wasn't a requirement for salvation. Sunday I sensed God saying, 'It's not a requirement of my love, but are you willing if I ask?' I always had reasons not to be baptized in the past. But I felt God's strong direction to stop finding reasons not to be obedient to his request."
+ + +
"God has been especially faithful to me regarding a recent bout with cancer, but sometimes I'm reminded that my body is of this earth and is imperfect. When I was baptized and went under the water, I remember thinking that my soul is untethered, unbound by THIS world, and is unrestrained . . . and aimed at HEAVEN! That feeling of joy was overwhelming. This was a life-event I will never forget and I would encourage anyone who is contemplating it, to be baptized the very next chance they get. Something happens in the water!"
+ + +
"My husband and I love each other very much, but our marriage has been struggling lately. I was not able to be in the service on Sunday because I was working with the kids. Someone came into the room that I was working in and told me that I needed to go to the sanctuary because my husband had gone forward to get baptized. I was sure that they were wrong (maybe didn't know who my husband was?) but I went to the sanctuary anyway. A few minutes later I saw my husband step into the baptistery with tears in his eyes and get baptized. PRAISE THE LORD! When we got home from church on Sunday I could have sworn that I brought the wrong man home. His whole countenance had changed. He was happy, helpful, wonderful! Later that night after we put our son to bed we talked about what happened that morning. He told me that he loved me and with God's help we were going to change our marriage. He apologized for the way things had been going and promised to make a change. I could see in his eyes that something had changed in him. I also made a promise to him that I was going to make some changes. I cannot tell you how much our lives have changed in the last four days. It is amazing! Our home is happy again. Our communication has improved and there are smiles on our faces. Most of all, our prayer life is alive again -if you walked in our home today, you would SEE God at work!"
+ + +
"For years and years I have been carrying around a heavy load of guilt and shame and self-loathing over behaviors that I am just now beginning to understand and overcome. I have been a Nazarene for my entire life, and I had accepted Christ into my life as a child. But over time as I got older, I drifted from my walk with Christ. Oh, I was in the Church, sometimes even active, but my private life was a mess. Secret behaviors, secret guilt. A little over a month ago, two life-changing events occurred that forced me to take deep stock of my life and decide what I wanted, and more importantly, what I needed. I needed God. I fell on my face before God and asked Him for His grace, His mercy and His forgiveness. I have NEVER felt what I felt in my heart and soul that day. But still, I continued to feel the weight of all the guilt and shame and I continued to carry it on my shoulders.
Sunday, I suspected something was up because I could feel the energy in the sanctuary the moment I walked in. As you preached on baptism, I just knew something absolutely unexpected was about to happen. I knew you were going to have a spontaneous baptism and I knew I needed-no I WANTED-to get baptized to mark a new beginning in my life. I honestly was upset that I wasn't the first person in line! You said, "Something happens in the water . . ." You bet something did! In that water, years and years of guilt and shame were washed away! When I came out of the water it was like 10 tons were lifted off of me. I think I even did a fist pump or two. What I really wanted to do was shout at the top of my lungs YEA!!!!!! I AM FORGIVEN AND I AM FREE!!!
I am still on cloud nine, and I just cannot believe what God has done in my life in just thirty short days. I also know that I have a lot of work to do on myself and that baptism by itself doesn't mean I don't have to keep working, but it serves a symbol of the power of God to give me strength and courage and hope to continue on and become the person He wants me to be. I am praying that the "ripple effect" will have a great impact on our church, our city and our world. Further, I am praying that God will use me as part of the ripple."
+ + +
Those who were baptized:
Hannah Elizabeth Albright
Mary Catherine Allen
Donald Wayne Anderson
Jason B Bass
Reid Steven Beals
Kevin Reid Beals
Briah Michelle Bennett
Ruben (Trey) Louis Bley III
Ruben Louis Bley IV
Anderson Norman Bley IV
Crystalyn Jeanette Booth
Nicholas Alexander Bowes
Lee Allen Boxberger
Taylor James Boyle
Katy Leigh Bradley
Brett Martin Bradley
Hayley Lynn Brandt
Meagan Denae Branscum
Beth Darlene Brewer
Gloria Louise Brewer
Darlene Brown
Riley Paige Brown
Edward Watt Brown
Timothy Alan Brown
Frederick Michael Bryan
Gregory Lee Bumpus
Benjamin Mitchell Bumpus
William Scott Bumpus
Madison Grace Busic
David Allen Busic
Gerald Neil Cagle
Lori Ann Calfy
David Carroll Clowers
Anna Lyn Cochran
Michael Jack Cochran
Steven James "Reece" Cofer
Brittany Nicole Cofer
MaryJean Cofer
Len Steve Cofer
Joey Colaizzi
Michael Matthew Collins
Dale Ellsworth Cook
Becca Rhea Cox
Grahame Andrew Croslin
Andrea Lynn Crouch
Ronald Coleman Crouch
Bethany Grace Crownover
Heather Dawn Daugherty
Jordan Louis Davis
Mucio "Moose" de Macedo
Vaden Ray Dean
Hannah Michelle Dedmon
Richard Scott Dedmon
Garrol Leo Dockum
Matthew Miller Doughty
Karla Kay Drake
Patricia Lee Dumbell
Douglas Gene Eaton
Curtis Warren Everitt
Weldon Ferguson
Tamra Jill Fields
Caleb Wesley Frazier
Lance Alexander Friedline
Joseph Fredrick Garlett, Jr
David Brian Garon
Mary Frances Gassett
Kent Wesley Gering
Hunter Loran Gibson
Robert Kyle Greer
Jennifer Lyn Groves
Michael Glen Gunter
Bryan Michael Hansen
Dustie Baye Harris
Aspen Beth Harris
Austin Travis Helgerson
Bennett Helgerson
John Edward Herren
Laura Ann Hicks
Blue Cunningham Hines
Kyle James Holcomb
Glen Kyle Holcomb
Crosbie Rae Holliday
Clayton Kastner Hooper
Jacob Louis Hopkins
Judith Nann Horton
Tara Michelle Houston
Dena Margo Irby
Melissa Ann Jacobs
Ruth Elizabeth Jones
Brooke Ann Keoppel
Kenneth Philip Keoppel III
Jill Marie King
William Lyndel Lackey
Fiona Star Laube
Leah Minnie Leach
Mindy Jo League
Chance Doyle Ledford
Traci Ann Ledford
Myrtie Marie Lee
David James Long
Ashley James Longnecker
Harivansh Luchmun
Shrikant Arjun Luchmun
Elaina Anne Luecke
Emma Katherine Luecke
Sandra Jean MacPhee
Katrina Dinara MacPhee
Branden Scot Mahan
Leah Jeanette Martin
Pamela Lynn Marxen
John Monroe Metcalf
Kevin Scott Metcalf
David Andres (Andrew) Morales
David Carrol Nantze
Mikayla Lynn Nelson
Zachary Martin Newlin
Jeremy Ryan O'Hair
Martha Ann O'Hair
Edward David Overholt
Kyle David Owen
Gabrielle Aja Padilla
Kelsey Kae Parham
Patricia Lynn Parham
Robert Allan Parker
Lucy Ann Piercy
Mida Faith Pilcher
Jack Curtis Pischel
Gary Ronald Pitcock
Watson Christopher Pollock
Cole Everett Prentice
Jim Ted Priest
Stanley Dave Rankin
Erick Leland Reimers
Nadene Eleanor Richards
Maya Marie Rickner
Randall Clifton Robnett
Renee Michelle Robnett
Warren Wendell Rogers III
Makaylen Jalese Roserie
Ethan Michael Rudnicki
Patrick Glen Ellsworth Russell
Marjorie Ann Sacket
Douglas Wayne Scheiern
Ryan Michael Scott
Charles Roger Seitz
Jen Shaw
Lezli Renae Shire
Sallye Ann Siems
Aylaia Inez Sifuentes
Stephen Rupert Smith
Barbara Sue Snowbarger
Mary Catherine Snowbarger
Tralece Ellene Sohrabi
Kelly Amanda Sohrabi
Robert Dale Springer
Caleb Emmanuel Springer
Irene Mildred Streets
Nancy Lee Summers
Carol Bradley Swanson
James Timothy Taylor
Danielle Nicole Turner
Virginia Marie Usher
ReBecca Lyn Vandiver
Paul Frederick Wetmore
John David Whitaker
Jared Nathaniel Willard
Allison Paige Williams
Audrey Faye Yoesting