Made New
Being able to say Rachel has heard the gospel her whole life is a blessing, but that doesn’t change her personal need for a Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way — to heaven, through hard days & seasons, and to peace that passes all our understanding.
She may be young, but during a hard season in our home, she ran toward Jesus instead of away from Him. Through many conversations with Greg and me, her teachers at school and church, and other trusted adults, Rachel realized she doesn’t want to be apart from God.
One night in July, when she should have been sleeping, right after our Alaska trip and before VBS and Crossings, she put her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and decided to follow Him.
She’s still asking questions, starting conversations, and digging deep, but she believes & trusts in Him who made her and wants to become more like Christ. She took a huge step forward Sunday morning when she made this faith public through believer’s baptism.
I could list so many people who helped (and will help!) us raise this girl in the ways of the Lord, but I’ll just leave it at this: We are so grateful to be surrounded by such an awesome community, especially at Hardin Baptist Church and New Covenant Christian Academy. Walking up to the baptistery, through the high school room, to her Sunday school class, and then back into service was so fun because so many people wanted to celebrate her — who she is in Christ and what He’s doing in her life. These are our snapshots of some of our people, and we truly don’t know another way to know God and make Him known than together.
After her baptism, she hugged us and was going to change into dry clothes, and I said, “Do you feel refreshed?” Immediately, she responded, “I feel made new.”
Indeed! This isn’t just refreshment for the moment but life-giving nourishment for the rest of our days. I’m thankful God keeps teaching and growing us in His ways.
*****
Another note: The Internet is a weird place. I debated sharing my video of her baptism after I’d already posted a carousel of pictures, but I did. And, y’all, God has used it! I’ve been writing and sharing on the Internet for a long time, but the reel of Rachel’s baptism is going viral, literally. The fact that this video is one of surrender and actually doesn’t have anything to do with me isn’t lost on me. Leave it to God to work in ways I never expected, even on Instagram.
