583 Baptisms Represent ‘583 Changed Lives’ at Fellowship Church

Orginally published on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 at 7:27 AM
by Todd Rhoades

GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)--Describing baptism as “one of the fundamental steps in any Christ follower’s life,” pastor Ed Young Jr. preached a special sermon on the ordinance and then invited people to respond at Fellowship Church and its satellite campuses...

“It’s our job as a church to remind people of that. And I want to take every opportunity to help people move forward in their walk while they are white hot,” Young said in a news release from the church, which is based in Grapevine, Texas.

“I don’t want those excuses to creep in,” he added. “It’s funny how many people will become a Christian and then balk when it comes to being baptized.”

So Young pre-taped a message in a baptismal pool as he demonstrated baptism and talked about what people could expect during their own baptism. The message was shown at all four of the church’s Dallas-area campuses Aug. 12-13, and after each showing, Young appeared on stage live to give an invitation for baptism.

“I just talked about some basics of baptism, answered some of the most common questions people have about baptism and showed people the significance baptism holds for the Christian life,” Young said. “We decided that if we provided people with an opportunity to respond immediately, they wouldn’t have time to make up excuses and they would find that stepping up is definitely worth it.”

Young noted that the New Testament recounts that 3,000 people were baptized on the Day of Pentecost, and he challenged individuals to move forward with their own baptisms.

Young’s invitation prompted 583 people to respond, a record number of baptisms for the church in a weekend.

“It was amazing to see so many people respond to Christ’s command to go public with their faith,” Young said. “And it was a powerful show of support from the congregation as they stood and applauded as people came forward.”

Doris Scoggins, director of baptism for Fellowship Church, made sure there was room for the baptism candidates to change into shorts and T-shirts.

“We had over 100 volunteers who helped sign in, organize and lead people from the changing area to our baptismal areas at our four campuses,” Scoggins said.

On the Grapevine campus, four pastors baptized people simultaneously as friends and family members cheered.

Fellowship Church, with campuses in Grapevine, Plano, Dallas and Justin, Texas, baptized 2,142 people in 2005 and a similar number in 2004. The church recently started another satellite campus in Miami, where worship is led live and then a taped message by Young is presented.

“Our goal is to baptize more each year because each baptism represents a life that’s been changed forever,” Scoggins said. “And changing lives is what the church is all about.”

FROM BAPTIST PRESS

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