Baptism
I have witnessed my first baptism service in Maranatha yesterday when one of my friend made the decision to go for one, just before he leaves the USA for good and return to Malaysia. Because MCF is a small church, the entire event was very unlike BBTC's, this was small, intimate and powerful. The baptism service was conducted after the regular church service with people just crowding around the bucket. While the water immersion process was similar, what followed was different.
My friend invited the holy spirit to enter into his life while the rest of us stepped forth and laid hands on him in prayers. There was also nudging by the pastor for us to speak in tongues and communicate with the Lord in our own spiritual language, which I truthfully am not comfortable with :X Even though I only spoke forth in English, I could definitely sense the holy spirit present at that sanctuary; that internal feeling and tears welling up in my eyes. After that, people who were led by the Spirit came forth individually to speak words of encouragement and/or downloads they have received from God to the baptismal candidate. It was uplifting and encouraging just being a spectator. We ended off the baptism service with some praise and worship songs.
The baptism service was so powerful that it made me slightly jealous because I want to experience something like this too. But! I will not regret my own baptism because God has willed me to undergo baptism last year and through it He made me see His works. Reading through my own entry last year about baptism has reminded me once again of God's goodness in my life. So praise God for that.
My friend invited the holy spirit to enter into his life while the rest of us stepped forth and laid hands on him in prayers. There was also nudging by the pastor for us to speak in tongues and communicate with the Lord in our own spiritual language, which I truthfully am not comfortable with :X Even though I only spoke forth in English, I could definitely sense the holy spirit present at that sanctuary; that internal feeling and tears welling up in my eyes. After that, people who were led by the Spirit came forth individually to speak words of encouragement and/or downloads they have received from God to the baptismal candidate. It was uplifting and encouraging just being a spectator. We ended off the baptism service with some praise and worship songs.
The baptism service was so powerful that it made me slightly jealous because I want to experience something like this too. But! I will not regret my own baptism because God has willed me to undergo baptism last year and through it He made me see His works. Reading through my own entry last year about baptism has reminded me once again of God's goodness in my life. So praise God for that.