Baptism

Baptism April 10, 2022

Caleb Smith

My name is Caleb Smith. I am 7 years old and a 1st grader at Lancaster County Christian School. I have been growing up in a Christian home, hearing Bible stories my whole life. Different times, I had questions. My parents answered them. They often asked if I wanted to pray to ask Jesus into my life. I usually said "Nah, I'm good."

Last July, my mom was listening to a podcast. I heard the guy say "Jesus is Coming Soon". I asked what that meant. She told me Jesus promises to come back to Earth again, not as a baby, but as a King. I asked more questions. Mom answered them and this time when she asked if I wanted to pray for Jesus to enter my life, I said"yes!"

I love reading the Bible, singing worship songs, and learning about Jesus in Sunday School, chapel, and home. I love Jesus and what he has done for me.

I am being baptized today to let everyone know I know have Jesus in my life. When He comes back, I will go with Him to heaven.

Gracelyn Fulmer

Hi, my name is Gracelyn Fulmer. I am 9 years old, and I am glad to be here at LEFC today. I would like to share a quick story of how I accepted Jesus as my savior. It was January 15, 2020, and I was on my way to swimming lessons when I said, "Daddy when you die do you always go to heaven or do some not?" He said, "Some people go to heaven, but those people believed in Jesus." Then I asked him what happens if you don't believe in Jesus. He told me you go to Satan's world where there's no hope because you are separated from Jesus.

A terrible thought struck me that I could go there if I didn't have Jesus in my heart.

Before bed, I told my mom about our conversation. We talked about sin - the bad things I would do when I didn't want to do them (although sometimes I did want to do them) and she said only Jesus can help me forgive myself for the bad things I've done. She said that when I make Jesus my best friend, His Spirit helps my heart forever. I wanted that. She read me Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved."

So just like that, I prayed with my mommy and daddy about it. Tears were flowing down my cheeks by the time I had accepted Jesus as my savior. I felt a wave of happiness. I felt so happy that I had no problem falling asleep!!!

When I was born my parents assigned my life verses based on the meaning of my name. We say these verses every night.

"Praise the Lord, oh my soul, all my inmost being praise his Holy name. Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." Psalm 103:1-5

Knowing Jesus makes me feel braver when I am afraid and more confident when I don't feel good about myself. I hope that any of you who haven't accepted Jesus in your heart will do so because He will help you too.

Robin Binkley

Greetings! My name is Robin Binkley, partner in life and married to Steve Binkley. I have 3 children, 1 bonus son, and 3 grandchildren (with 1 due in May). I grew up in Lititz, lived in Strasburg, and am back in the Lititz area. I have been in healthcare for 40 years.

I have weathered many storms throughout my life. I was going through trauma, both emotionally and physically, at which time I started to find other coping means to soften the hurt.

The hurt never goes away. It drifts and affects others. I truly am so sorry and apologize to my family for the hurt that I have put them through. I have asked God's forgiveness every day, as well as forgiveness from my family. Jaimie and Adam Smith, please forgive me as there is nothing more precious to me than you two and your children - my grandchildren.

A year ago, this past February, my son and daughter-in-law invited me to LEFC. I never hesitated to say yes. At first, I was not used to the vocal, charismatic type of service. However, I have now become one of the loudest singers. I am concerned because I have had some members turn around and look at me. I hope I don't sound that badly.

Pastor Ken sang the Our Father during church. That day I broke down in tears knowing that there was a calling for me to lay my addictions down at the foot of the cross and the Lord will take care of them. That is the day that I truly accepted our Lord as my savior.

Since that day, I have had two people who I have no idea who they were talk to me about their life struggles. One was someone who was at Costco and her children were stealing from her. Another is a nurse who has many life concerns, and the topping is she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Both people I randomly asked them how they were which led to an ongoing conversation and prayer.

Praying to our Lord every day, daily worship, and looking at life out of a completely different window is allowing me to make changes for the better. All things are possible through the Lord.

Thank you, LEFC, for your open arms, encouragement, and heartfelt teachings.

Baptism March 13. 2022

Adam Snyder

Before I felt called to know Christ, I was 12 when I felt prompted to ask for forgiveness of my sins toward a loved one that just passed away. At that moment I experienced that the love of Christ was personal and truly profound.

A song that's recently grown special to me, the chorus repeats with increasing energy, "You've been faithful, over and over, you deserve all of the praise. I will trust you, over and over. Hang on every word you say." This song reminds me of God's faithfulness even through the hard times. And when I'm hard on myself, I've learned to remember the grace of God. From 1 John 3:1, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."

I'm not perfect and moving forward, I continually ask Jesus for forgiveness of my sins. A tune from my past that I even taught my fiance the melody is, "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free spirit."

I will continue to turn to Christ to learn how I should honor God and love others.

Bethany Jensen

Hi! I'm Bethany Jensen, and I've been a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ for the last year and a half.

My live pre-Christ was exactly as Paul describes in Romans 1: By my unrighteousness I suppressed the truth; Although I know God, I did not honor him as God nor give thanks to Him; Claiming to be wise, I became a fool; I was filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice ... full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness; I was a gossip, a hater of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, an inventor of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. For those of you who think murder might be a bit extreme, Jesus's sermon on the mount equates murder to anger - and anyone who is angry with his brother is liable to judgement and to the hell of fire.

In the fall of 2020, I had a fit of rage and directed all my anger at God. I told Him I wanted to be able to sin without having my conscience convict me. I even went so far as to tell God I never asked to be chosen, and I begged him to unchoose me, so I could live a much easier, guilt-free life, while continuing in rebellion. I was a slave to sin, and the fruit I was getting at that time (from the things of which I am now ashamed) was death.
    God showed me that a part of what I said that night was true - I didn't ask to be chosen. My salvation depends not on my own human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. He has powerfully demonstrated His grace to me - in that while I was dead in my sins, including that night, Christ died for me. God has given me the faith to believe in His Son, and therefore be justified, and be at peace with God.

How profound is it that we once were enemies with God, and he was enemies with us ... BUT GOD being so rich in mercy & because of the great love with which He loved us has made us alive together with Christ - which means we aren't fighting anymore with our Creator and Sustainer. Instead, we're on the same team, and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

The Holy Spirit has filled me with desire to study and meditate on Scripture, just like the blessed man in Psalm 1 whose delight is in the law of the Lord. I've seen evidence of God's Word as living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart, and of being profitable for training in righteousness. After all, how can we be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ without studying Scripture? Actually, through Adam's and my study through Romans last summer, the Spirit piqued my curiosity at Romans 6, which brought both of us to getting baptized today, to #1 - Be obedient to Christ's command, and #2 - to take part in the unity that we have into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:4 says "We were buried with Him therefore by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life".

I'm thanking and praising God today for this beautiful sacrament he's given to use; For my joy and my crown, my fiance, who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, and who shows me the love of Christ; For our sweet friends who have been a great encouragement in the faith, several of who are here today; And of course for Jesus - who foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified us.

For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen!