Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 28:19

In March Jared had a new believer, Violet, approach him about being baptized. This prompted him to open up the invitation to anyone in the church who would like to be baptized. Three of our youth group kids, Jose, Julieta and Rosa, came forward and also decided to be baptized. So, at the end of March, Jared had the sweet privilege of performing his first baptisms. 

On Sunday, March 30th after church we opened up the invitation for anyone in the church who would like to go to the local beach with us and support those being baptized. We had over 20 of our church attenders go to witness and support those who decided to make a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ. At our Sunday morning service, another lady of our congregation and her two daughters also decided to be baptized. 

William, Vicente, Violet and Jared

Julieta

There were a total of 8 people who were baptized that day. It was a great moment for our church. Our newer believers taking a public stand for Jesus and our seasoned believers coming around them, encouraging and supporting them. 

Jose

Rosa

In the van ride to the beach, Spanish, English and Creole were spoken. There were Dominicans, Americans, and Haitians. We could see our church walking in the Lord's great commission that day to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Although our church attenders come from different nations, different backgrounds, different cultures and many of us speak different languages, we are one body in Christ. He has brought us together and we have unity in Him. 

You can see more pictures of the baptisms on our church's Facebook page, Capilla del Calvario de Barahona: Click Here!

A week or two after that precious day, Jared announced a need that we have in the church for help with Sunday school. After church, those same three youth group kids who were baptized, came forward and volunteered to help. It is awesome to see how the Lord is working in them. They received Jesus into their hearts and lives, they professed Him before others and now they have the desire to serve Him. 

When you see the transformation of an individual before your eyes, the miracle of a soul changed over from death to life, you cannot help but confess that you are not the one doing the work. It is all God. The changes we see in the members of our church have nothing to do with us. I can't make someone follow Jesus. It is His sweet love and powerful presence and their willingness to allow Him all of who they are. 

I can't wait to see where the Lord will take our church from here. 

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." 

Ephesians 2:4-5