Yes, We Gathered At The River!

The Lord gave us a beautiful day for baptism on Saturday. At my best count, there were 18 people baptized in the beautiful pool, just below the cascading falls. I got pictures of most of them, but sorry to say, I missed a few. These first two are the adults who have been most recently saved, Carol and Gary.

This man had been prayed for by his Christian wife, son and family and by our church for years before recently receiving Jesus Christ as his Savior!

Our dear brother, Jim, had always feared the water greatly, and therefore had not dared to go through baptism. The Lord truly did the work in his heart when Jim asked Pastor recently if he could be included in this round of baptisms! He also joined the church the next day. God never gives up on His children. I am glad that growth comes at every age and that the Lord never stops His work of conforming us to His image.

I will give the next pictures in family groups:
I totally missed Matt and Zach's photos from the H family. Not sure where my camera was at times, I guess. Sorry, guys!

 ~ These from the R family, which I did not get all their photos either. There were 7 of their children baptized!

Amos

I am sorry that I don't have the photo of Amos actually turned around, but there was a bit of a mishap as he stepped into the water. I do have the photo of Pastor, as he'd slipped down in to the pool...the photo of Amos and Mr V laughing, but decided not to include it here!

Salinn

Lydia

Hosea

I missed several of the photos of the R family. Also I missed Samuel, from the A family photos below, I'm sorry!

Grace

Jonathan

Then the B family; I'm sorry again, I missed two here.

Ben

Henry

Annette

Mom was there, as each came out of the water, to encourage and remind each one to carry on with the Lord and that they can "talk to the Lord at any time."

Following this blessed time of baptisms we had our church/family picnic. The fellowship with family and friends -- and the food...all made for a wonderful day!

Friends, Mom and Rose

Jim says Hi to Katelyn

...and great Grammy, to Madison

Girls, gathered around the babies, of course!

Our cooks, Syd & Dustin

Jim & Gary

A large group for volleyball!

...and of course, the food tables.

At the end of the day we were tired, but Syd and I just couldn't stop thanking the Lord and talking about the blessings of it all, especially for those who followed the Lord through the testimony of baptism...a testimony of each believer's faith in the Lord; the picture that they "died with Christ, were buried with Him and rose with Him, to justification," and publicly showing the desire and decision to keep waking with the Lord throughout the remainder of life.

"...they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said, 'what doth hinder me to be baptized?' And Philip said, 'If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." 

Acts 8:36-38