Photo by Gene Kaiser, South Bend Tribune
It's an annual event at Granger Community Church. And every year hundreds enter the water to be baptized, declaring their commitment to follow Jesus as his disciple. For years we traveled to a nearby lake; last year we met at Coveleski Stadium, using portable pools.
This year we brought the celebration to our campus. After every service people were given the opportunity to exchange their burden of sin, guilt and shame for a different burden. The biblical call to salvation. A call to pick up the burden of every Christ-follower: own his agenda, his kingdom work to redeem, to restore, to recreate the world. To bring justice, love and mercy to every inch of the globe. Salvation. Not fire insurance. Not a transaction, but a lifestyle.
Hundreds have responded all weekend. I'm on my way back out to baptize some more people who are going public to follow Jesus!
