Baptism

Baptism at Sunday in the Park - Group 5

Charis Desiato

My name is Charis, and I am 9 years old. I accepted Jesus into my heart May 1. When I accepted Jesus in my heart I was inspired by my Bible. And I knew the Bible was not just some fairy tale and I believed it. I'm here today because I believe God has truly cleansed me from my sins.

One of my favorite verses is Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord will be with you wherever you go".

Madison Dahl

My name is Madison Dahl, and I am 11 years old. My family and I have been going to church my whole life and attending LEFC for 6 years. One night when I was 7 my brother, sister and I had a lot of questions about Jesus and about how you know you're saved. That night, my mom answered a lot of questions and prayed with me to accept Jesus into my heart. I realized the only way to heaven was through Jesus and His death on the cross.

When I am sad or having a bad day, I know Jesus is with me. I can also give my friends hope that there is someone that loves them and wants a relationship with them too. I try and share what Jesus has done for my life every chance I get and as I grow in my relationship with Him, I want my friends to see a difference in my life.

I now want to grow closer in my relationship with Christ by reading the bible, praying, and sharing the good news of what Jesus has done in my life.

One of my favorite verses to share with my friends is Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Ava Weaver

Hello, my name is Ava, and I am 10 years old. I was raised in a Christian home, so I grew up going to church and believing in Jesus. When I was 8 years old, I accepted Jesus into my life and asked him to take control of my life. Before I came to Christ, I still had him as my Lord and Savior, but I didn't understand as much as I do now. I saw from my parents and all of my family members that I need Jesus and we all need Jesus.

My family really was a great help to come to Jesus - it would be so hard to become a Christian in a non-Christian household. I praise God for that. I love God with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind. Here are a couple verses from Psalm 146: "You have searched me Lord and you know me; you know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways". God knows our every move, he knows what we're going to say even before we know what we're going to say.

Now that I am a Christian, I am here to make my faith public by getting baptized as a way to show I love God and he is in charge of my life. Letting Jesus into my life was a huge step in my life but it was one of the best days of my life. Now I am standing here proclaiming my faith. I have grown in my faith and love since then. Even when I do stupid mistakes every day, he still forgives me and gives me so much mercy and grace. Let Christ be magnified in me and help him use me in his big perfect plan. Jesus has a great plan for everyone. He is my god and I love him with all my heart, soul, and mind.

Ruth Kleinschmidt

Hi I am Ruth Kelinschmidt. I live in Ireland and came to Lancaster for a year. LEFC is the church that my grandparents attended and over the past ten months I feel like I have become part of LEFC as well. I grew up in a Christian home, but I accepted Christ into my heart when I was 8 years old. My life has had ups and downs, but I know that no matter where I am in my life if I am sad and lonely or happy and cheerful Christ is always there with me guiding me.

I accepted Jesus into my life when a woman at my church in Ireland spent the time to tell me about Jesus dying on the cross for my sins and that I could live forever with Jesus in heaven. She also explained that I could have a relationship with Jesus and that having a relationship with Him is a very special thing.

I am very blessed to have Jesus in my life. Jesus makes me a better person and a better Christian. When I was younger, the Bible was read to me often, and I was told about Jesus dying on the cross for my sins to be my savior. I was young so I thought they were just words, and I didn't completely understand them, but since I have had a relationship with Jesus I understand the Bible more. I also appreciate Jesus more knowing that He died for me. Jesus was innocent but he died for the guilty, one of the guilty people is me. The relationship I have with Jesus now is strong and I hope it grows stronger as I grow. Today I would like to thank my Pops and Pastor Tony for helping me grow in Christ and being here today to baptize me.

Drew Stief

My name is Drew Stief and I am a senior at Messiah University. I was born into a family with loving parents and siblings, an older brother and sister. Impacted by my family, I decided to give my life to Christ at a very young age. By the grace of God, I truly believe I've been saved since that moment, however it wasn't until more recently that I understood what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. Growing up I had faith, but it did not have a great impact on my life. I sought after the things of the earth to fulfill me and bring me happiness. I allowed things like sports, friends, and my emotions to dictate what I thoughts my true identity was. Trying to be fulfilled by the things of this earth caused me to constantly be searching for greater purpose in life because those things failed me time and time again. It all started to change in my later school years, I had a wake up call from God that made me realize I could be gone from this earth at any moment, and what would I have lived for? Finding the answer to that question; I realized my life was not on the right track. I would like to say that I did everything that I could do to change my life there in that moment but that would be anything but the truth. The truth is that God did everything he could do to make me realize that I'm his son and he is my true purpose in life. This did not hit me all at once and change my life right away, but the seed was planted. Two of the ways that God put me on the right track in life were, putting me in the right place at Messiah and putting the right people in my life, specifically my girlfriend Catie who has been a Christ-like influence on me and has been guiding me closer to God over the past five years. Once I got to college, my heart really became on fire for the Lord. This past spring break my team took a trip to Colombia which was the best 10 days of my life. At the end of the week, having experienced God's love so tangibly, I realized I never had to doubt God again. Up until that moment I had an inkling of doubt in the back of my mind, but now I can truly say I will never doubt him again. I don't want to be naïve and think that challenges don't lay ahead, but I know the Holy Spirit will guide me home.

What does this mean for my life now and in the future? The answer to this is found in my favorite verse, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid." -John 14:27. The Statement in this verse that God does not give as the world gives, but instead gives hope and peace that is everlasting is this most important thing in my life. He has saved me from my sins and the ways of this world.

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.