Baptism

WHOEVER BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED... Mark 16:16

On Easter, '09 April 12, I got baptized in the Mennonite Brethern Church.

This step that I took has probably been one of the biggest steps in my faith that I have taken so far. After just coming home from a missions trip (SOAR heartland...I'll talk about that another time) I felt like I was on top of a mountain...

I decided to get baptized for several significant reasons. First, I felt like I was staying in one place with God. I had stopped "walking" with God, and just stayed in one place. Our relationship just stayed the same. Nothing was changing...and I felt that to keep walking with God, I needed to take another step. Second, it wasn't just MY decision to get baptized, I felt God calling me to take this step. Over a period of about 3 months, I heard God's quiet whisper through prayer, reading my bible and through other people that he wanted me to take this step. And thirdly, I wanted to get baptized because I love God. I wanted to let everyone know that I do not go to chuch because my parents make me...it's because I want to be a Jesus's servant, and because I love God. I wanted to make my faith public...to let my church, friends and family know that this is MY decision to follow Christ, and no one else's.

MY BAPTISM TESTIMONY

Hi, I'm Nicole. My parents are Andrew and Moni Warren. I just turned 15 on April 4th and I'm in grade 9 at MBCI. I became a Christian when was about 4 or 5. I’ve been coming to McIvor Church my whole life and I love it here. I also want to thank my parents for introducing me to Jesus, to all of my Sunday school teachers, mentors and friends who have helped me grow in my faith. God has also blessed me with AMAZING friends, who have supported me and taught me so much.
Red Rock Bible Camp has been a significant part of my life. I have gone there for 5 years. Every summer I’ve gone has taught me so many new things about God. I also rededicated my life there when I was 11.
Last year, I was definitely challenged in my faith. It was the year after I quit speed swimming. Speed swimming took up a lot of my time, and it was my way of worshipping and honouring God. But when I quit, I felt that God had left me. I stopped reading my bible and sort of put other things before him. I experienced, for the first time, what it felt like to not have God as my number one priority.
Even though I had sort of ignored God, he did not forget me. It was through a verse I heard this past fall that made me realize that God will never stop loving me.
Hebrews 10:22. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
I then began drawing closer to God again, as if I was reuniting with an old friend. God’s grace is so amazing. Even though I had rejected him, he forgave me and welcomed me with open arms.
Last week, I went on the SOAR heartland mission trip. One night, during session, the speaker was telling us that in order to live fully for God; we need to give everything to him, even our burdens. There was a wooden cross at the front, and he said that if we wanted, we could write our burdens on a piece of paper and tack it to the cross. I felt I needed to let go of the sadness I had about quitting swimming. I had to move on with God and realize that I personally don’t need swimming to worship or honour God. And letting that go was such a relief because I had been holding on to that for way too long.
I’m super excited about growing in my faith and in God because he is SO amazing. I’m looking forward to sharing my faith with others, serving God and also helping out in the community, with church and at school. So, today, by getting baptized I want to publicly say, to you as my church that I love God and he is my King and best friend.