Going Public
In Late Nite this past Wednesday, we had an incredible time of joy and celebration by baptizing 13 people!! As a pastor, I have the privilege of taking a front row seat to the miraculous move of God in the lives of so many. I'm always amazed at how the love of Jesus Christ can totally transform someone dealing with shame and embarassment into a person of dignity and honor. Only God can heal a broken heart and make it truly whole again. He can heal the pain of our past and use it to produce hope for the future of so many others. I love being right smack in the middle of a God-moment!!
If you didn't get a chance to be a part of the service Wednesday, you can click here to view it. It is under 6/21/06...here are a few stories from those who were baptized.
I love Cherie's story. She was helping to evacuate people out of New Orleans during the hurricane, and her car broke down in Baton Rouge. Through a series of divinely orchestrated events, she finds herself on the doorstep of Healing Place Church where her life is changed forever! By being baptized Wednesday night, she went public with her faith, announcing to the world that she belongs to Jesus! Only He can take a breakdown and turn it into a blessing!
Mindy's story was amazing too. She was drifting in her faith and involving herself in a lifestyle that was leaving her completely empty. The Holy Spirit began to do a work in her heart, and she made a decision to reconnect with God. Her 21st birthday was on Wednesday, and she thought the best way to celebrate was with the family of God, going public with her faith. What a defining moment for her!!
Wasn't Chris inspiring? He was so excited about being baptized that he was shouting as I put him under, and was doing the same as I pulled him back up! He buried the "old man/old lifestyle" of sin he used to know and has been raised to a new life in Christ!
And then there was Salina. How cool is it that she found HPC in the Yellow Pages!!?! She saw that we were located on Highland Rd. (the only road she recognized since she is from Ruston and attending graduate school at LSU), and did a little Map Quest search to find us. The Holy Spirit knows exactly where we are, and He can get us exactly where we need to be!
I love what God is doing in this generation!! Late Nite, keep stepping out, being bold, and going public with your faith!
posted by Mike Haman @ 7:08 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Pastor Mike, you're awesome! Thanks for being so strong.
That's a great report Pastor Mike!
I'll never forget when Brandi and I got baptized at HPC back in 2001. I was baptized as a child (Thank You Mom and Dad), but this one was my decision.
I remember coming out of the water and this overwhelming feeling came to my arm as the Holy Spirit hit me!
No, wait, that was just Pastor Dino slugging me in the arm for not helping myself out of the water! I got the video to prove it too.
I love this church! It's a dangerous church, even during baptism!
Mike:
Love reading your post (especially to see how much the girls are growing). Who could have imagined Prissynella would grow up to be such a true Little Princess?
We have a site too at www.the-smith-fam.blogspot.com. Check us out when you get a chance. We are trying to make a trip this fall to visit the old stomping ground. Madelynn is 2 (and Typically Terrible) and Zach is 7 months and trying desperately to get into everything.
Timmy called the other day and it was so good to talk to an old friend. So glad things are going well for you guys.
As for us, after three years of youth ministry here we resigned effective June 1st. Todd's position with Ozarka Waters and promotions within his department have left less and less time for family much less anything else. It was a heartwrenching decision but one that was best for the youth as well as are family. We are excited to take a pause for a while and then see what God has in store. Hope to see you guys in the fall!
Betsy
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