Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) likes to run short, 250-word stories in each weekend's bulletin to tie in with the sermon or events happening within the church. Here is the short story I wrote about the increase in baptisms in 2008. The approximate bulletin count is 6,000 every weekend.
Outward Expression, Inward Decision
Baptism isn’t something to be taken lightly. In fact, it’s a very serious decision that requires commitment and courage…commitment to live for Jesus Christ and the courage to make that decision known.
David and Nicki Balzarini, residents of Vistancia, recently completed the membership process at CCV and were baptized. David and Nicki were both baptized as young children and have struggled for years whether or not to be baptized again as adults. That decision finally came with some encouragement from their small group. Nicki recalls sitting in Class 100 when pastor Don Wilson stated there were no verses in the Bible to back up infant baptism. And although Nicki and David’s family members may not agree with their decision to “renew their vows” to Christ, they did it anyway. The Balzarinis said they want to follow the Bible and its commands, so getting baptized was the next step in their growth process. “I wanted to take a stand for Christ and express the internal changes that have taken place,” David stated.
Baptisms at CCV have increased over 33% in 2008 from the previous year. This year alone, over one thousand people have taken the same stand the Balzarinis did just a few weeks ago. If you are ready to take the next step in your faith journey, let your decision be known and get baptized.
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