“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
We had the great joy of being at the baptism and confirmation service that took place on Sunday night to witness the public declarations of faith of eleven people – one of whom was our daughter. I was delighted that so many of our church family and guests could be there to celebrate this event with us.
I am struck by how God has graciously and faithfully worked in the hearts of each of those being baptised/confirmed to bring them into new life with him. And I am very grateful that God has done this through so many different people in different ways at different times – but all of whom have obedient to one command to “make disciples”. If you were one of those disciple-makers along the journey, or you are currently a disciple-maker – I thank and praise God for you and your ministry and I hope that you were encouraged as much as me on Sunday night to see the fruit of this work.
It was lovely to look across the congregation on Sunday and see …
… the parents who we had shared crèche duties with in a pub lounge, a sports centre and various other venues…. who had been an encouragement to us as new Christian parents and shared Godly wisdom whilst wiping noses…
… the people who had faithfully prepared Sunday school lessons and loved and prayed for our children in partnership with us from when they first started walking and talking …
… the long-serving leaders of kids and youth work who loved and taught them each week, served in Dangerous Club, Pathfinders, CYFA…
… the leaders and members of the home groups that we as parents have been members of, who have been discipling us as parents along the way…
… the volunteers who each year sacrifice a week of their own holiday to be a leader teaching the bible on camp, giving the kids an amazing week but also judging by many of the testimonies, a time of growth in understanding the gospel and their response to it..
… the godparents who prayed for these young people and loved them …
… those spending a precious evening a week reading the bible one to one and discipling them in reading the bible for themselves and praying…
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(If you missed the service do pick up a copy of the booklet “my story” which contains the testimonies of each of those who were baptised or confirmed – it’s a great read.)
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