Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

By Doug Bing, Washington Conference president

Recently I witness a new thing: A baptism.

I know what you are thinking. Baptisms aren’t new. They have been around for centuries. In fact, they were around long before John the Baptist started baptizing people in the desert.

But what happens at baptism is a new thing. Each baptism is a new thing in that a brand-new baby Christian is being born and is basking in the newness of being covered with Christ’s robe of righteousness. But I digress.

What I really saw was a family being baptized via Zoom. In this day and age when churches are closed, it is great that the gospel is still moving forward. People are studying the Bible via video calls and giving their hearts to Jesus and are doing what millions before them have done and are being baptized.

With this “bapti-zoom,” the family joined a Zoom call with three pastors. Their bathtub was filled with fresh water. The father was baptized first with instructions from the pastors. The father then helped to baptize his daughter and wife in their home tub. The very next week, another family celebrated their commitment to Jesus with their bapti-zooms, too!

There is something else that is new at baptisms: That is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist told his audience in the desert that while he baptized with water that someone else was coming that would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is something that we ask for and receive constantly as we walk with God.

Frankly during this time of coronavirus lockdown, we can and should be asking for even more of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that the gospel of Jesus can go forward. We love meeting at church and worshipping together, and this will be phasing back in to our reality in the near future.

But right now the church has left the building. We are discovering more about church outside the walls of the building and how #churchisaverb (follow ministry reports on Facebook showcasing how God is at work through His people). We are putting our faith into action in new ways. We can be led by the Holy Spirit to talk with more and more people about the power of Jesus in the life of His creation.

Please take the time and ask this week for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and then see where He leads and moves you to share Jesus.

I would also like to invite you to pray and prepare for our Virtual Week of Prayer coming this June 14-20 (you may RSVP at http://bit.ly/wacwop. We will be calling the family of God to a time of prayer with encouragement to Pray Continually. Let’s grow spiritually together.