Our Rosie and Hannah to Be Baptized Tomorrow!

Earlier this week, we were invited by friends to attend a baptismal service Sunday at the Cowboy Church where we are friends with the pastor and people. 

The baptisms happen in a big trough (western style) in the front of the church!

That sounds so unique! 

Rose had trusted Christ as her Savior in July at the Mountain Majesty Tent Meeting in Colorado Springs, and had a desire to be baptized.

There aren't many opportunities to be baptized, so, wondering if Rose might be able to be baptized as well, we made a call to the pastor who was absolutely delighted to include Rose in the service of baptism!
It would only be as a statement of faith and not a joining of the church, as we don't attend there except on rare occasions, and have a lot of differences of beliefs.
Plus, the pastor wants Jonathan to do the baptizing! But more on that later.

This is an old fashioned pastor, an army vet, who has always been so welcoming to our family on the occasional Sundays when there were blizzards or bad roads or we couldn't make it to our church for other reasons. He is about to retire the end of this year.

Pastor Shumpert told us it made his day when we called asking about Rose being baptized along with the other candidate. He said he told his wife his day couldn't get any better!

It's such a delight to bring joy to others!

And if it makes a pastor friend happy, how much happier must God's heart be with a young lady and her little sister decide they are going to trust Christ and follow Him all the days of their lives!

Hannah has trusted Christ as well, and after coming along with Rose to meet the pastor and discuss baptism, she made the decision to be baptized, too. 

I had been hesitant when Hannah asked about it.

Did she understand? Had she really made a genuine commitment?

But I felt she had, as she has talked about asking Jesus to forgive her sins, and has a tender heart,

willing to ask forgiveness when she does wrong.

When I suggested she wait to be baptized till she is older and understands better, she got tears in her eyes.

And I thought of Jesus saying "Let the little children come, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

So we permitted her to "come." And she is sooo happy!

I think it is important for us parents to validate our children's faith, however simple, innocent and young they are. I believe it could save them years of fears and baggage. 

Rose was 16 before she felt assured; Hannah is half that age. All children are different in their readiness, aptitudes and understanding, and may we not hinder them but help them.

Most interestingly, this pastor likes to have the father help with the baptism if he is a Christian.

So--Jonathan will get the privilege of doing the dipping while the pastor "says the words."

Baptizing in a trough on a November Sunday morning!

We had never heard of baptism in a trough, but yesterday when our friends the Zarkovackis came over for a couple hours and played baseball together, 

Audrey told me that both she and her husband were baptized in a trough not far from here in a Conference Center. The church folk rented the conference center and a trough!

I guess it  may be a western tradition in some circles!

We are so excited!

If any of our friends happen to read this post before tomorrow morning, you are welcome to come join us and witness our two daughters' baptism!

Of course, I hope to have pictures later on!

I bought brand new white towels for the occasion, with red roses representing the blood of Christ, and white baby's breath representing the purity of heart we have in Him.

Remember Rose and Hannah in prayer tomorrow as they take this step of obedience to Christ.