What an absolutely amazing weekend this has been. I usually attend and serve at the 6:00 PM service on Saturday and serve at the 9:30 AM service on Sunday morning and sometimes at the 11:15, like today...the Saints don't play til' tomorrow night.  I usually serve communion and collect the offering at the 9:30 and am blessed with the opportunity to serve in the prayer ministry after services.
This weekend was different. For the first time in twenty-three years, we baptized people in the church. We usually would do this in various member's swimming pools and baptize several people at a time in the pool with several people performing the baptism. The church got a specially pre-fabricated pool that could be setup in front of the auditorium, between the stage and the front row. One person would be in the pool doing the baptizing and one person would get baptized at a time in front of the congregation. The baptism was to take place during worship. After the third song, Phil, our Pastor, gave a short explanation of baptism, introduced the people, one by one, and made a proclamation that all agreed to. Then, the baptisms would begin with the worship band playing and singing the following song:
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus | S. Sundar Singh
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.
I had the great pleasure of serving at last night's baptism and at the baptism at this morning's 9:30 service. Just the simple service of helping folks out of the pool and giving them a towel and having the opportunity to once again witness such an incredible event was truly gratifying. One guy, William, a friend that was on the Alpha retreat and was one of the guys that was praying for Johnny with us got baptized. It was so wonderful to see the emotion and happiness; the joy of the Lord all over him. Even though I didn't have any extra clothes with me, I just knew that after giving him a towel, a handshake just would not suffice. I had to just hug him, sopping wet and all. God is so very awesome. It is such a blessing to see God move in people's lives and change them from the inside out, including myself. I was ready to jump right in the pool myself and be baptized again. So many came out of the water and just threw their hands up to the Lord...changed...a new creation in Christ. No turning back.
This morning, I knew that I wanted to stay for both services and asked if I was needed for the baptism at the 11:15 service. There were two other people serving for that one. I believe God knew what else would be a real blessing for me. At that service, I just stood in the back of the church and worshipped and witnessed the baptisms. There was a family in the last group, including kids from about ten to young teenagers. There were also other teens and a few adults. I can still hear the song in my head, "I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back". It was quite emotional. I cried tears of joy as I worshipped and witnessed the youth being baptized and committing their lives to Christ. It was nothing short of amazing and beautiful. I am so very happy that the Lord has led our church to start doing baptisms in this way. Words can not describe how so very awesome this has been. A total of thirty people were baptized this weekend.
The song is playing in my head and I find myself quite emotional as I write this.  Thank you, Jesus. 
I am so happy that I decided to follow Jesus. There's no turning back for me, no turning back.  
God bless all of you. May He touch you and bless you richly. I certainly am.
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