Baptism

This afternoon I had the great privilege of baptizing James and Cameron. They joined three other people (all classmates of James's) who were baptized today. In the afternoon we went down to the Ba'e River, which bends around the edge of Ukarumpa, and were joined by a large number of other people from the community who came to witness the event. 

The songs during the service were each chosen by the baptism candidates. We started with "Amazing Grace," and then sang "Just a Closer Walk" (chosen by James and Cameron). Then the five candidates affirmed the words of the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, 
creator of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
born of the Virgin Mary, 
suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died, and was buried; 
he descended to the dead. 
On the third day he rose again; 
he ascended into heaven, 
he is seated at the right hand of the Father, 
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,  the holy catholic church, 
the communion of saints, 
the forgiveness of sins, 
the resurrection of the body, 
and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Then each of the candidates shared a short testimony of their faith in Christ. From Cameron:

My name is Cameron Coulter. I was born on March 8, 2004, in Australia. I’ve asked God to come into my heart recently. God has helped me with a lot of things. Before I asked God into my heart, I sometimes wasn’t as nice as I am now. I wasn’t able to do harder jobs in my house. I sometimes wasn’t nice to my friends in school, either. 

 

Now, God has changed me and he will help me do things that are hard to do. I can usually help my classmates in class who I do like and who I don’t like as much. I also believe that Jesus died on the cross, too, and he didn’t stay dead. 

 

I want to be baptized, now, because I know about Jesus and his father and the Spirit. And I’ll follow Jesus the rest of my life now.

And from James: 

My name is James Elliot Coulter. I was born on the twentieth of March in 2001 in Ohio, USA. I joined the family of God in Wewak at age four. 

 

Since that day, God has helped me in many ways to draw closer to Him and understand His will. 

 

I am glad now to publicly announce my faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to be sealed forever as a child of God. I know God will continue to guide me and help me to serve and obey Him for as long as I live.

Each person, after giving a testimony, went to the river to be baptized--each person baptized by his or her father.

Cameron's baptism

James's baptism

Then after they had all been baptized, we stood around them and prayed over them. I was honored to pray this prayer (taken from a few sections of the baptismal service of the Book of Common Prayer) over James and Cameron (and all the candidates): 

Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.

Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death. Open their hearts to your grace and truth. Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit. Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy Church. Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit. Send them into the world in witness to your love. Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

After the service, we invited everyone to our house for a reception and celebration for those who were baptized. We enjoyed great food and a wonderful afternoon with many friends.